7 APRIL 17 - CLUB MEETING AT BELLISSIMO
 

On April 7 at Bellissimo Ristorante in Montvale members welcomed Rotarian Jennifer Padolina who serves on the Program Committee and is an active Rotarian in the Paramus club.

 

Today there are over 70 Gift of Life programs throughout the world. The majority of these programs are based in Rotary Clubs and Districts on five continents.

 

The U.S. Gift of Life program started with a club in Long Island in 1976. The first Gift of Life was a child from Africa. She was not expected to live beyond the age of three or four. However, she is now over 40 and active in the program.

 

Our District’s program began in 1986. Our District has hosted over 1,100 children.  Out of those 1,100 our club hosted 11. 

 

Jennifer hosted many Gift of Life patients herself and often relieves other host families, e.g., on weekends. Jennifer also coordinates logistics between patients and hospitals by receiving and referring patient charts. She matches patients to hospitals, including Westchester, St. Josephs and Valley Hospitals.  It costs host clubs about $6,000 per child patient and $9,000 per adult patient.

 

Jennifer described Gift of Life mission trips and the amount of work involved for members who go.  She concluded her talk by reminding Rotarians what a life-changing experience it is to participate in Gift of Life (whether domestic or mission) and invited us to attend one of their meetings to learn more.