Local Rotarians pledge to support $100 million challenge

Jim Jonson President of the Stanwood Camano Rotary Club said recently that all the members of his Rotary Club, Rotary District 5050 and in fact all Rotarians from around the world are totally committed in their dedication and support of the Rotary Foundation as it raises US$100 million towards finally eradicating polio.

The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International recently received a US$100 million grant from The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which Rotary will raise funds to match, dollar for dollar, over the next three years. This initial grant will be used, within one year, in direct support of immunization activities carried out by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), a partnership spearheaded by the World Health Organization (WHO) Rotary International, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and UNICEF. 

This huge show of support for polio eradication is one of the largest challenge grants ever given by the Gates Foundation and is definitely the largest grant received by Rotary in its 103-year history. Polio eradication has been Rotary's top priority since1985.

Since 1985, Rotary volunteers and partners have contributed hundreds of thousands of hours to National Immunization Days in polio endemic countries and Rotary itself has contributed $633 million to the ongoing eradication efforts.

Rotary District 5050 Governor Larry Stinson said "there are approximately 3000 Rotarians in District 5050" and "I am confident that all of them will continue their past history of fully supporting Rotary's fundraising activities to raise funds to eradicate polio." He went on to say "District 5050 covers an area from Everett in Washington to Hope in British Columbia and the friendly competition generated by the 55 Rotary Clubs and the approximately 3000 dedicated Rotarians within the District will have a huge influence on our future fundraising activities" At the recent District 5050 Rotary Charity Golf Tournament the clubs in the District and over 120 Rotarians and friends pledged in excess of $130,000.00 to the challenge.

Rotary International, Rotary District 5050 and its 3000 Rotarians are also appealing to the general public to provide support in the US$100 million challenge to eradicate this crippling disease, polio, and a website has been created that provides information on PolioPlus, our partners, Rotary's eradication efforts and facts and figures of this massive undertaking. Please visit www.rotary.org/endpolio or www.polioeradication.org  to learn how YOU can support this challenge and help rid the world of polio. 

What finer gift can we give the children of the world than a world without polio?

Rotary is a worldwide organization of business and professional leaders who provide humanitarian service and help to build goodwill and peace in the world. Rotary's global membership is approximately 1.2 million men and women who belong to more than   32,000 Rotary Clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas.