Premature neonates can now breathe easy thanks to the generous donation of a ventilator made by service organization Rotary International Districts 6950 & 7020 and the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International. As the only Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in the Region, management and staff at the Princess Margaret Hospital and the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation were pleased to accept such a generous donation presented by international organization Rotary International.
The donation of the much needed ventilator valued at close to $50,000 was made possible through a Rotary International Matching Grant in partnership with District 7020, The Rotary Club of East Nassau, Rotary Club of Nassau, Rotary Club of New Providence, Rotary Club of West Nassau, Rotary Club of South-East Nassau, Rotary Club of Nassau Sunrise, Bahamas; District 6950, Rotary Club of St. Pete Sunrise, Rotary Club of Holiday, Rotary Club of Dunedin, Rotary Club of Indian Rocks Beach, Rotary Club of Dunedin North, Rotary Club of New Port Richey, Rotary Club of St. Petersburg, Rotary Club of St. Pete Sunset, Rotary Club of Hudson, Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel, Rotary Club of Crystal River Kings Bay, Rotary Club of St. Pete Suncoast, Rotary Club of Gulf Beaches, Florida, USA; and The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International.
As stated by Boyd Acklin, President of the Rotary Club of St. Petersburg Sunrise, Florida, District 6950, “We felt it was important to lend support to such a worthy cause; this meaningful donation to the Princess Margaret Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit is another way to give back to the international community, and we encourage other persons to become involved and do their part in helping the world. We are delighted to be able to provide this ventilator. It makes us proud to be Rotarians.”
As stated by Michele Rassin, Past President of the Rotary Club of East Nassau, “On behalf of the Bahamas, I would like to thank all of our partners for their generous donation which will help save the lives of thousands of premature babies who would be unable to breathe without the assistance of these ventilators. We are delighted to be able to receive this donation and present it to the Princess Margaret Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit as no child should have to struggle for that first breath. We would like to say a very heartfelt thank you to all of the Rotary Clubs and District 6950 and the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International who have contributed to this life-saving initiative.”
Rotary is a worldwide organization of business and professional leaders who provide humanitarian service and help to build goodwill and peace in the world. Rotary’s global membership is approximately 1.2 million men and women who belong to more than 32,000 Rotary clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas. For more information about Rotary, visit www.rotary.org.
