Since 2003, GoL NEO has hosted over 100 children from the developing world who had come to Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital originally and now to Akron Children’s Hospital for repair of their defective hearts.

Since 2010 our focus has changed from bringing in one child at a time to sending outbound surgical teams that can serve 12 to 20 or more children with each visit. Each mission involves partnerships with other Gift of Life chapters, numerous Rotary Clubs including local clubs in the developing world and grants created under the umbrella of The Rotary International Foundation. We partner with local children’s hospitals to teach, train, and equip local medical care providers while conducting open heart surgeries on children with CHD within the local community. 

This approach had led to more than 4000 children served since 2010 by GoL NEO and countless other health care benefits to the community beyond the direct outcome of our mission.

GoL NEO Countries of Focus include; Egypt, Haiti, and Kenya though we have participated in more than 30 countries over the life of our organization.