The Rotary Club of Bronxville is raising money to buy a third laparoscopic surgical tower for a children's hospital in Lviv, Ukraine.
The Western Ukrainian Children's Hospital has become the country's primary pediatric surgery center during the war, now in its fifth year. The club's annual gala on Oct. 9 at Siwanoy Country Club will benefit the hospital. Tickets are $300. The event runs from 6 to 9 p.m.
The hospital operates two laparoscopic systems, both in heavy use and prone to breakdowns, according to MyHometownBronxville.com. A third tower would let surgeons keep operating when one unit is down for repairs and cut wait times for children who need minimally invasive procedures.
Demand at the hospital has surged since Russia's full-scale invasion. Before the war, the facility treated about 15,000 inpatients a year. In 2025, that number hit 18,165, a 21% increase.
"The new tower will reduce delays in elective surgery and increase access to minimally invasive surgery for emergency patients," Natalia Dolinska, former president of Rotary Lviv, said in a Sept. 24 account of the partnership.
Laparoscopic surgery means smaller incisions, less pain and shorter hospital stays for young patients. Susan Johnson, the Rotary Club of Bronxville's president, described the need in an article she wrote for MyHometownBronxville.com announcing the partnership with the Rotary Club Lviv International.
As we reported Sept. 24, the gala will also honor Ken Hanau with the club's Community Service Award.
Tickets can be purchased at bronxvillerotary.com or by mailing a check to Bronxville Rotary Foundation, c/o Valon Nikci, treasurer, 141 Parkway Road, Suite 28, Bronxville, NY 10708.
Last year's gala at Siwanoy benefited Veterans Rebuilding Life and honored Dr. George Unis.
Upcoming community events
- Oct. 9 — Rotary Club of Bronxville Annual Gala, 6 to 9 p.m., Siwanoy Country Club, 351 Pondfield Road, Bronxville. Tickets: $300 at bronxvillerotary.com.
