Gift of Life International
Our Guest Speaker this week was Brenda Small founder and President of the Los Angeles chapter of 'Gift of Life" and has worked for The Gift of Life International since 2012.
If you missed the presentation you can watch it here on our YouTube Channel
Brenda Small returned to Canada in September 2020 after living in California for 27 years. Brenda is mother to three beautiful daughters and two adorable dogs. Brenda has been a Rotarian since 2006 and is currently a member of the Manhasset Rotary Club (Passport Club in New York). Brenda has received five Paul Harris Awards as a result of her work with Gift of Life.
Prior to moving to Los Angeles in 1993, Brenda was employed by Dylex, one of Canada’s largest retail chains, as Head Buyer. Brenda launched her own successful garment importing company in Los Angeles and continued to design and import garments until 1996 when she decided to focus on her new job as a stay-at-home mom.
The birth of Brenda’s youngest daughter changed life as it was forever. At just one week of age, Delaney Small was diagnosed with complex heart disease. Doctors delivered the heart wrenching news that Delaney would not survive her first birthday without receiving corrective heart surgery.
Thankfully, the surgery was a success and Brenda had a new purpose in life…to help save the lives of other children with heart disease who did not have the same medical and financial resources available to them. Following Delaney’s surgery in 2002, Brenda began to raise funds to help children in need with heart disease. In 2006 Brenda joined Rotary and also founded the Los Angeles chapter of Gift of Life. Brenda continued this work as a volunteer until 2012 when she was hired as the Assistant to Gift of Life International CEO, Rob Raylman. Brenda has worked Full Time for Gift of Life International for the past 10 years while remaining President of Gift of Life Los Angeles and also implemented the Gift of Life Nutritional Assistance Program in El Salvador in 2008. Brenda currently resides in Stoney Creek, ON and holds the position of Director of Operations for Gift of Life International and feels blessed to be able to save the lives of children in need each and every day.
We meet by Zoom during the Covid Lockdown.
Please Email President@RotaryHSC.org for a link to our online ZOOM Meeting on Friday January 28, 2022. The Zoom Doors open at 12 noon and the meeting starts promptly at 12:15 pm
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