NEWS RELEASE

Ernest Hauser, 281-360-3854 or beveh@aol.com

June 14, 2015. Humble Rotary Assists in Saving Lives in a Poor Community in Cartegena, Columbia

Humble Rotary, under the leadership of International Service Chair Felipe LaRotta, played a key role in bringing Rotary resources together to purchase much needed hospital supplies for the pediatric cardiovascular surgery room of the hospital Casa del Nino in Cartegena, Columbia.

LaRotta, a native of Cartegena, Columbia, wanted to assist his hometown. In determining how he could assist them, he contacted the CEO of a local children’s hospital, who happened to be a Rotarian. The hospital, Casa del Nino, which serves the poor community of Cartegena, Colombia, needed equipment for the pediatric surgery room to enhance and improve their surgical capabilities in order to reduce infant mortality rate. The equipment needed would assist them in being certified to perform these needed procedures and impact the lives of children and mothers each year. Without being certified, economically challenged children and mothers were unable to travel to other parts of Columbia for these procedures.

LaRotta received approval from Humble Rotary to be the International host for the project. The Rotary Club of Cartegena would be the local host for the project. Humble Rotarians Bill Davis and Oran Bain assisted in raising $10,000 from other clubs in Rotary District 5890, with Humble Rotary being the lead club The District then matched these funds. The World Fund of the Rotary Foundation approved the project and then matched the funds provided by the District. The local Rotary Club of Cartegena also provided funds. The net funds raised were $44,416.

The hospital gained the certification needed and is now performing those needed surgeries, thereby improving the lives of children and reducing the infant mortality rate.

This is the miracle of Rotary as clubs from around the world join together to solve a problem in a needy community.

Rotary brings together a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges. Rotary connects 1.2 million members of more than 34,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas. Their work impacts lives at both the local and international levels, from helping families in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world. For more information, visit www.humblerotary.com or www.Rotary.org .

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