The Evolution of Gift of Life.
Maximizing Our Impact to Help More Children
Gift of Life is a Rotarian-based organization that has evolved over the past four and a half decades into a global network of caring. Our traditional model for providing care to children with heart disease from emerging countries was to bring one child at a time to the United States for treatment. For the first 30 years of our existence, this was our primary means of providing hope to children who were not able to receive treatment in their country of birth.
Although this remains an important part of the Gift of Life Global Network, we have now evolved, enabling us to help address the crisis that exists today for children with heart disease throughout the world who lack access to treatment. Through the strategy we have developed, over 99% of the more than 3,500 children each year we provide care to are treated in their country of birth.
Our Evolution
46 Years of providing hope to children with heart disease and
healing little hearts around the world
1975
The Rotarian-based program, Gift of Life (GOL) began its mission of bringing one child at a time from emerging countries to the USA for cardiac treatment. The first-ever Gift of Life recipient, Grace Agwaru from Uganda, received a second chance at life.
2003
In 2003, Gift of Life International was formed with the following Guiding Principles:
- Develop new GOL programs
- Maximize the capacity of existing GOL programs
- Develop partnerships with like-minded NGOs
- Tell the collective story of GOL programs
2009
Gift of Life International created the strategy to focus on developing Sustainable Pediatric cardiac surgery, catheterization and aftercare programs in select countries.
2018
Our Core Programs in Uganda and El Salvador reached sustainability and are now Legacy Programs where children are treated reliably in their country of birth.
2019
Over 3,600 children were provided hope through our global network making Gift of Life International the largest NGO providing cardiac care to children in the emerging world.
2020
More than 1,600 children from 16 countries were treated during the global pandemic as we empowered local healthcare professionals to utilize skills learned to light the world with hope for children in need.
2021
Our Core Program in Romania becomes our third Legacy Program and is now providing hope to Romanian children with heart disease on a reliable basis.
Over
43,800
Children Treated
From 80 Countries Across 5 Continents
In 2008, GOL global network celebrated saving our
10,000th
Child
Over
4,000
Children Treated Annually
Throughout our Global Network of Caring
1.3 Million
Each year, 1.3 million children are born with congenital heart disease, and 93% of them are born in a country that cannot care for them.
1 in 100
This year, approximately 131 million children will be born. Statistically 1 in every 100 will have a congenital heart defect.
#1 Birth Defect
Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) is the number one birth defect worldwide.
Legacy and Core Program Impact
17.5% of all children treated since 1975 are a result of our Legacy and Core Programs.
332
Rotary Clubs
78
Rotary Districts
Support Gift of
Life Efforts
Around the World
network consists of