To save the life of a critically-ill baby

Amman, June 2009 – In line with its vision to fulfill its humanitarian duty towards the children of the Middle East and Africa, and in continuation of its programs dedicated to saving the lives of children suffering from cardiac diseases, the Gift of Life Charitable Society in Amman (GOLA) is holding a fundraiser entitled "Tastings for Gift of Life" on Sunday, June 14th, 2009, at the Jordan National Gallery Gardens in Jabal Webdeh, Amman, from 7PM–10PM. The event will bring together both individuals and institutions from the local community in order to raise the funds required to finance the critically-needed open-heart surgery for Ahmad Ramadan, a 7-month-old baby suffering from a congenital heart disease (CHD), a birth defect which inhibits the heart's ability to deliver oxygen-rich blood to the tissues of the body.
The "Tastings for Gift of Life" fundraising initiative will be held under the slogan of "Save a child’s life, answer a parent’s prayer, and sow seeds of friendship and peace" in partnership with the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts, and aims to collect enough donations to cover the surgery's expenses, which range between JOD 5,000 and JOD 8,000. A Jordanian cardiac surgeon will be performing the corrective operation free of charge.
Participation in this humanitarian charity event is open to all, and tickets can be purchased for JOD 30 by those who wish to attend. As part of the event, attendees will be able to sample some of the region's finest foods and wines as well as receive valuable prizes; the fundraising's entire proceeds will be used to cover the expenses of the surgery. Tickets are available in the GOLA office and at participating restaurants' branches. Interested individuals may contact the following number for tickets and further information: 079-926-1625.
Commenting on this occasion, Mr. Rudy Habash, GOLA's Chairman, said: "The 'Tastings for Gift of Life' fundraiser is a national goodwill movement that aims at coordinating efforts to spread goodness and benefits to all, not only to save a child's life but also to instill hope in the hearts of families. This step comes as part of our strong belief that equal opportunity in attaining good health should be a basic right for every human being regardless of their financial situation."
He added: "We would like to invite all those who feel a strong sense of social responsibility and who have the ability to join us in this cause and adopt this humanitarian initiative in order to contribute to building future generations that will carry our message and achieve our developmental ambitions."
The fundraiser is being sponsored by several private sector institutions such as the Landmark Hotel, the fundraiser's reception setup sponsor; restaurant sponsors including Canvas, ATICO Fakhreldin Group, Kebab Express, Casper & Gambini’s, Trader Vic’s, and Romero Group; in addition to Zoumot Vineyards, the exclusive wine sponsor, and PepsiCo. The list of raffle sponsors comprises of Heidelberg Jordan, Christina Ferrari Jewelery & Gifts, United Technology Solutions and all participating restaurant and wine sponsors, whilst Anty Magazine of Front Row Publishing & Media Services is acting as the event's magazine sponsor, National Press is the printing sponsor, and Shadi Zureik is participating as the DJ sponsor. The raffle grand prize will be an Apple MacBook.
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About the Gift of Life Charitable Society - Amman (GOLA)
The Gift of Life Charitable Society (GOLA) was established in Amman in April 2006 as a non-profit charity group inspired by Gift of Life International. Since its inception, GOLA has facilitated over 100 surgeries for needy children from around the Middle East and Africa.
GOLA is registered as a charitable society with the Jordanian Ministry of Social Development, and serves as a beacon of hope and support for families in need of assistance to save the lives of their children who suffer from Congenital Heart Disease.
Alongside a series of life-saving heart surgeries provided by a team of Jordanian doctors, GOLA conducts annual Heart Missions at Al-Khalidi Medical Center conducted by volunteer medical professionals. GOLA’s Heart Missions witness extraordinary collaboration between Jordanian and American medical personnel, which promotes the exchange of medical practices and helps in developing life-long friendships – not only between the medical teams, but with the patients’ families as well.

This news release has been distributed by Bidaya Corporate Communications on behalf of the Gift of Life Charitable Society.
For more information or assistance please contact us on the below number:

Tel: +962 6 5692008/9
Fax: +962 6 5692007
P.O.Box: 930391, Amman 11193, Jordan
E-Mail: media@bidayacorp.com