California-based Interplast has received $1 million from the Ronald McDonald House Charities to continue its free reconstructive surgery program for needy children around the world, the San Francisco Examiner reports.

The money is part of the Ronald McDonald House's Award of Excellence, presented to Interplast founder Dr. Donald R. Laub, the paper reports.

Laub started the nonprofit group in 1969 while chief of reconstructive and plastic surgery at Stanford University Medical Center. His group is funded entirely by private donations.

Interplast estimates the $1 million award will pay for reconstructive surgery for 2,500 children.

This is the second major recognition of Interplast this year. A film about the organization, "A Story of Healing," won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject this past year, the paper reports.

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archive/1998/10/23/PENINSUL7869.dtl