Bay Area Doctor Combats #1 Birth Defect to Save Young Lives
San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) January 29, 2014 -- Every year, 1.3 million babies are born with a congenital heart defect, the most common birth defect in the world. Due to a lack of advanced medical care in developing countries around the world, most will not get the surgery they need to survive. Fortunately, heroes like Dr. Nilas Young, recipient of the 2012 World of Children Health Award, are ensuring more children have access to cardiac treatment and care. Through February 14, World of Children Award is supporting Dr. Young’s vital work with a special Valentine’s Day fundraising campaign.
“The gift of life is the greatest gift we can offer to a child,” said Harry Leibowitz, World of Children Award’s Co-Founder. “Dr. Young has given that gift not once or twice but thousands of times.”
Dr. Young first became inspired to provide heart surgery for children outside of the U.S. after he saved the life of a 7-year-old Russian girl. Word spread about the successful surgery, and soon he and his colleagues were receiving hundreds of letters from Russian parents, begging them to help their critically-ill children. He decided to found Heart to Heart International Children’s Medical Alliance to train physicians and establish new pediatric heart care facilities in regions across the country.
Since then, Dr. Young and his team have saved the lives of more than 15,000 children.
“Heroes like Dr. Young give me hope that one day -- one little heart by one little heart -- every child will have an equal opportunity to lead a healthy life, no matter where they are born,” Leibowitz said.
Every donation made through February 14 will help Dr. Young continue to provide life-saving heart surgery for children. Donations can be made at http://www.worldofchildren.org/valentinesday.
About World of Children Award
For 16 years, World of Children Award has identified and vetted some of the world’s most promising heroes leading programs for children and granted funds to advance their efforts. The organization’s exhaustive research and vetting of individuals has been hailed by leading philanthropic organizations.
World of Children Award has been featured on the Huffington Post, in Kenneth Cole’s AWEARNESS: Inspiring Stories About How to Make a Difference and The Humanitarian Leader in Each of Us. World of Children Award Honorees have also been featured by The New York Times, CNN, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Bonnie Hunt Show, Fast Company Magazine, People, Glamour, TEEN Vogue, TIME for Kids, USA Today and the Christian Science Monitor, among several other national and international media. Earning a World of Children Award has often served as a pivotal launching point for recipients.
World of Children Award is led by Co-Founders Harry Leibowitz and Kay Isaacson-Leibowitz, retired senior executives from Procter & Gamble and Victoria’s Secret respectively, who first started the organization to honor individuals serving children with a Nobel Prize-like award. Since 1998, World of Children Award has granted more than $6 million in cash grants and program support to 100 Honorees who are the driving force behind programs serving children in more than 140 countries.
Brock Weaver, World of Children Award, http://www.worldofchildren.org, +1 925-399-6410, [email protected]
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