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Rotary's involvement with polio began in 1979 in the Philippines, with a 3H Grant. At that time a handful of Rotarians sought to rid one tiny part of the world of this crippling disease, which was endemic in much of the rest of the world. |
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The World Health Organisation was so impressed with the power of Rotary, when we raised $247 million in the mid 1980's for polio eradication, that it joined in partnership to launch the largest public health initiative in history. |
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Today, 30 years after we started the fight against polio in the Philippines, we are isolating the tiny pockets of polio outbreak, with the rest of the world polio free. That is an incredible reversal of the situation. |
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In November 2007 the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation gave Rotary (not the WHO, but Rotary) $100 million to help finish the polio eradication work, provided that we match that sum over a 3 year period, starting 1st December 2007. |
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So successful have we been thus far at raising funds and pledges towards that first goal, that in January 2009 the Gates Foundation awarded an extra $255 million to Rotary, on condition that we match another $100 million over 3 years. That 3 year clock started 1st July 2009. The 2 tranches of funds that Rotary needs to raise added together have become the: |
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$200 Million Challenge! |
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Brilliant News!! As at 25th July 2010 we had raised $144 Million worldwide, towards our $200 M Challenge. |
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All Clubs throughout RIBI are being asked to focus their Polio Eradication fund-raising efforts for 2010/11 into one week, February 19th - 26th, 2011. Prior to then we have a new initiative in this Rotary year - the mass planting of crocus bulbs, called: |
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'Focus on the Crocus' |
Read all about it!! The latest 'Thanks for Life' Newsletter has lots of ideas and information; it is here attached.
Attachment: Thanks for Life Newsletter August 2010 |
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The idea is to do mass plantings of crocus bulbs in October 2010, to gain publicity, to raise the profile of Rotary, to 'plant' a permanent reminder of Rotary's involvement with polio, and to try for the Guiness Book of Records. We are hoping to get access to plant bulbs in National Trust properties and other high-profile gardens/woodlands; more information on this will be released very soon. |
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Bulbs will be sold on a 'First Come, First Served' basis; cost is £17.00 per 1,000 bulbs, cheques with order (to Jill) made payable to 'Rotary District 1100' . When they are gone, they are gone!! |
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World Polio Day is Saturday, 24th October, 2010. This a United Nations initiative, but it seems important that we in Rotary are aware of the date, because of our focus on Polio Eradication in the year ahead. Clubs are not being asked to do anything particular for World Polio Day, although any work that you do to help raise funds for polio eradication is much appreciated. |
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