On August 11, 2 1/2-year-old Robinson Rodriguez arrived at JFK. He came with his mom from the Dominican Republic to receive a life-saving heart operation at Schneider Children's Hospital. The operation was successful, Robinson made a swift recovery, and on Sept. 2 he was on his way home.

The Gift of Life, a program began 30 years ago by the Manhasset Rotary Club, has grown from a local Rotary Club project to an international organization. Since its inception the GOL has saved the lives of over 6,000 children who were born with defective hearts. These kids come to the US from countries lacking the facilities and expertise needed to perform open heart surgery. Without an operation their life expectancy would likely be only a few years.

The Farmingdale Rotary Lunch Club donated $5,000 to the Gift of Life's Save-A-Child fund to help pay the hospital costs and other expenses of Robinson and his mother while they were here. The surgery is done without charge by doctors participating in the Gift of Life program.

To find out more about the Gift of Life and how you can help, by becoming a volunteer or by making a much appreciated financial contribution, call Pat Coulaz at 504-0830.