Gift of Life Program
Gift of Life
- Giving a Child the Simplest, Most Profound Gift: A Second Chance at Life
Since 1974, Rotary's Gift of Life program has brought children born with life-threatening heart defects from countries without access to pediatric cardiac care to the United States for surgeries that would otherwise be completely out of reach. What began with one Long Island Rotary club and one little girl has grown into a movement that has saved the lives of thousands of children from dozens of countries around the world.
The Rotary Club of Islip - Bay Shore has been part of that story for well over a decade — through host families, fundraising galas, golf outings, and the quiet, personal work of welcoming a child and their parent into our community for the weeks it takes to heal a heart.
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- Our Club's Involvement
Gift of Life isn't an abstract cause for our club — it's personal. Members like Bob Nathan and Sue Zaccheo have led our chapter's involvement for years, coordinating host families, running fundraisers, and keeping the program in front of our membership week after week at our Thursday meetings.
We've hosted Gift of Life children and their families directly. In early 2014, our club welcomed a young Gift of Life patient, Erika Ventura, and her mother Katia into our Rotary family while Erika received her surgery — one of many children our members have opened their homes to over the years.
Our fundraising has taken many forms:
- **Taste of Long Island** — an annual food and fellowship fundraiser at Appliance World in Huntington, raising money specifically for Gift of Life surgeries
- **Golf outings**, including our Gift of Life event at Eagle Golf Club
- **Galas and dinners**, held nearly every year since at least 2013, bringing our club and community together in support of the mission
And the impact isn't small. As our own Bob Nathan shared with the club, the Gift of Life Foundation network has helped save the lives of more than 10,000 children worldwide since the program began.
- 2025 Golden Jubilee Gala
2025 marked Gift of Life's 50th anniversary — the Golden Jubilee — celebrated with a landmark gala at the Uniondale Marriott. Rotary Club of Islip was proud to support this milestone celebration, with sponsorship opportunities, commemorative journal ads, and table sponsorships all going directly toward funding future surgeries. It's a fitting continuation of a program our club has supported since its earliest days.
- Photos Through the Years
Our Gift of Life story is written in pictures as much as words. Browse our photo albums from past events:
- 2025 Gift of Life Golden Jubilee Gala
- 2013 Gift of Life at Eagle Golf
- How You Can Help
Every dollar raised and every family who opens their home brings another child closer to a surgery that will save their life. Here's how to get involved:
- Host a family.** Gift of Life children and a parent typically need a home for several weeks during evaluation, surgery, and recovery. Hosting is one of the most meaningful ways a Rotarian can serve.
- Attend or sponsor a gala. Watch for announcements about our next Gift of Life fundraising event.
- Donate directly. Contributions of any size go toward the cost of a child's surgery, travel, and care.
- Spread the word. Share a child's story, follow our updates, or bring a friend to hear about the program at one of our Thursday meetings.
- Want to get involved? Join us to learn about upcoming events, hosting opportunities, or how to make a donation.
*The Rotary Club of Islip - Bay Shore meets Thursdays at 12:15 p.m. Learn more about our club and our other community service programs on our website.