Within its efforts to save the lives of two children in need of cardiac surgery

Amman, August 2010 – As part of its efforts to fund the surgeries necessary to save the lives of two underprivileged children suffering from congenital heart defects (CHD), Gift of Life Amman (GOLA) together with Hamleys held a fundraiser entitled ‘Tastings for Gift of Life’ . The charity event took place at the National Gallery Gardens in Jebel Webdeh and was attended by over 350 individuals and Jordanian civil society representatives.

The ‘Tastings for Gift of Life’ fundraising event was able to raise the necessary funds to cover the costs of life-saving surgeries of six-month-old Leen Hassan and one-and-a-half-year-old Malak Adey. The cardiac surgeries were performed by Dr. Bassam Akasheh and Dr. Khalid Salaymeh, who confirmed that the procedures were a success and that both children are on the road to complete recovery.

The fundraiser was sponsored by a number of private sector organizations including Reception Sponsors Le Royal Hotel, Sheraton Hotel, Romero Group, Crumz, Casper and Gambini’s, Khaled Zoumot Co., Houston’s Restaurant, Cozmo Bakery, Deeritna Restaurant, Batatee5, and Freeze Creamery,. Platinum Sponsors include the Four Seasons Hotel, Jafar Jewelry, Landmark Hotel, and Fitness First. Also supporting the organization of this event was the National Gallery for Fine Arts, Bidaya Corporate Communications, 16th of May, the Cosmopolitan Rotary Club and the Rotary Clubs in Jordan.

Commenting on this event, Daoud Aboud, GOLA’s Chairman, said: “We are proud of the partnership that holds us with Hamleys, who have actively contributed to helping us achieve our goals. GOLA helps around two to four children each month; the costs of each surgery are around JD 4,000 to JD 7,000 depending on how complicated the surgery is and how long the hospital stay will be. With the increase in the number of children suffering from cardiac diseases who require critical surgeries, and the fact that they cannot afford the expensive costs associated with these surgeries, the need to offer financial support is also increasing. GOLA continuously seeks for sponsorship and financial support from both individuals and institutions to fund the ‘Gift of Life’ for Jordanian children suffering from heart problems and to respond to their parents’ calls for a permanent cure.”

In turn, Mr. Saleem Al-Khaleel, former Marketing Manager at Hamleys Jordan, said: “We realize the important value of GOLA’s initiatives and our support to this charitable event stems from our belief in providing treatment and care to our children so that they are able to grow and live long and healthy lives. We participated in this event because we believe in the importance of uniting efforts that achieve a humanitarian cause that help elevate our society.”

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 inspired by Gift of Life International. Since its inception, GOLA has facilitated over 130 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 Gift of Life Amman (GOLA).

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