Gift of Life International, a Rotarian sponsored organization, provides children all over the world, with congenital heart disease, a chance to receive a lifesaving procedure that is performed at the discounted rate of about $6000. This implausible price is because of the generosity of many hospitals and pediatric surgeons. Recently, Rotary clubs across Connecticut were challenged to raise enough money to pay for the cost of 20 pediatric heart surgeries in honor of the 20 children from Newtown whose hearts sadly stopped beating on December 14, 2012.

The Rotary Club of Ridgefield has made the commitment to raise the funds to pay for one of those $6,000 heart surgeries.

One of our members, Kathy Graham, found the symbolism behind this project to be extremely moving. She asked Fairfield County Bank, her employer, if they would like to be involved with the project. They agreed that if we can raise $3,000 in one week, that they would match it. June 9th is the beginning of that week. Collection boxes will be in all of our 18 Fairfield County Bank branches as well as our Operations Center and Fairfield County Bank Insurance locations. On Friday, June 13th we are having our first ever Dress Down Day where employees will pay $5.00 for the privilege of wearing jeans to work!!

If you would like to contribute to this project we hope you will stop by. Checks should be payable to the Rotary Club of Ridgefield. If you can’t make it in this week, and would still like to participate, you can mail a check to her attention at Kathy Graham, Fairfield County Bank 374 Main Street Ridgefield, CT 06877.

What we are really excited about is that this campaign will last for just one week. But when the week is done, we get to go home knowing we have saved a child’s life. What could be better than that!!

Kathy Graham

About the author : michael austin

Subscribe to newsletter

Archives