Rotaplast---Saving smiles, changing lives!
The members of the Rotary Club of Portsmouth, are in the final stages of planning an October 14 to October 28, Rotaplast mission to Bangladesh. The trip honors the generous spirit of the late Jim Labrie and his life of service. Rotaplast International is committed to helping children and families worldwide, by eliminating the burden of cleft lip and/or palate and other deformities. Rotaplast sends multidisciplinary teams to provide free reconstructive surgery and care for these children.
According to Rotary Club President, Cleo Villaflores, the local Rotarians and residents, headed on this mission include: Ted Alex, Larry Gray, MD, Robert Herold, DDS, Jim Rini, MD, Michael Labrie, Maria Labrie, James Peterson, Aileen Dugan, Cassidy Rose St. Pierre, Leo Gagnon, Joan Dickinson, Leonard Seagren and Barbara Miller.
Earlier this year the club took on the full sponsorship of this project committing to raise $95,000. The Labrie family provided a $25,000 matching grant to jump start the fundraising. During his term as Rotary Club President and then District Governor, Jim Labrie was instrumental in introducing Rotaplast to Rotarians throughout the Northeast. Jim rose above the challenges posed by his own congenital cleft lip and palate to become a successful local entrepreneur and generous community leader. Labrie, a Rye businessman and philanthropist died in April 2016, leaving a legacy of kindness and compassion.
