| British, German governments pledge US$280 million to end polio |
At the International Assembly in January, the British and German governments announced commitments of critically needed funds for the push to eradicate polio. The announcement coincided with the one made by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation about its additional US$255 million challenge grant to Rotary International.
The United Kingdom is giving $150 million (£100 million) and Germany is giving $130 million (€100 million) to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. These contributions, to be made over the next five years, will not count toward Rotary's US$200 Million Challenge in response to the two Gates Foundation grants.
"This £100 million pledge by the UK government, combined with the money from our other partners, is a massive boost in the battle to rid the world of the scourge of polio," said UK International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander.
"We urge other countries to join us in closing the funding gap and ensuring that health workers have the support they need to protect the world's children from polio," said Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul, German minister for Economic Cooperation and Development.
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| Icy dip generates warm support |
RI Director Gordon McInally celebrated New Year's Day by diving into the frigid waters of the River Forth in South Queensferry, near Edinburgh, Scotland, to help meet Rotary's US$200 Million Challenge.
"Having made a personal donation to the campaign, I was anxious to do something more and to find a personal challenge that might attract further donations to the campaign as well as raising awareness among non-Rotarians," McInally says. "Realizing my marathon running or skydiving days are probably behind me, I decided to take part in the appropriately named annual 'Loony Dook'-sponsored swim which takes place each year in our home town."
More than 500 participants, aged 8 to 80, joined McInally in the plunge, cheered on by approximately 4,000 spectators and raising more than $6,000 for Rotary's challenge. "Every dollar will make a difference and mean Rotary can meet the challenge and finish eradicating polio from the face of the earth," McInally says.
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| A strong voice for ending polio |
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Janice Nichols believes passionately in polio eradication. In 1953, polio struck 8 of 24 students in her first-grade class in DeWitt, New York, USA. One of them was her twin brother, Frank, who died of the disease that same year. On the night of his funeral, she too was diagnosed with polio. She suffered temporary paralysis, but after intensive therapy and a difficult rehabilitation, was able to make a full recovery.
Nichols, now a rehabilitation counselor in Lockport, New York, has written a book, Twin Voices: A Memoir of Polio, the Forgotten Killer www.twinvoices.com. She donates profits from the book's sales to Rotary's US$200 Million Challenge. "Since the book was published in 2007, I've devoted my time to spreading the word about polio and the need for eradication via presentations to students, civic groups, and service organizations." she says. "It is now predicted that 10 million more children will be paralyzed by 2040 if eradication is not soon achieved."
Nichols is also interim executive director of Voices for Vaccines www.voicesforvaccines.org, a program of the Task Force for Child Survival and Development. "I'm so excited that I can continue to advance the importance of polio eradication and all vaccine-preventable diseases," she says
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| Fundraising roundup |
-A Music for Life Concert, organized by the Rotary Club of Buxton, Derbyshire, England, raised approximately $1,870 for Rotary's challenge. About 300 people turned out to enjoy the event, featuring the 28-piece brass Burbage Band, the Mad Hatters Youth Choir, and the Beresford Singers. Also on display were five banners with the End Polio Now message, provided by District 1050 (England), and one used in a 2008 National Immunization Day in India, provided by Mike Yates, of the Rotary Club of New Mills, Marple & District.
-An eye-opening fundraiser led by Si Burgher, of the Rotary Club of Bloomfield, Indiana, USA, garnered nearly $1,600 for Rotary's challenge. Burgher, 72, donated his shaggy eyebrows - popularly dubbed "Greene County's Longest Orbital Locks"-by having them shaved off at the club's annual charity auction on 13 January. Over the years, he has donated $7,000 to PolioPlus and has received Multiple Paul Harris Fellow Recognition for other contributions to the Foundation.
-A December exhibit of more than 150 nativity scenes from around the world, collected by Linda Beyea, of the Rotary Club of Ames, Iowa, USA, and her husband, Fran, helped generate support for ending polio. The collection featured works by Native American, African, Asian, European, Latin American, and other artisans in a variety of media, including pottery, wood, stained glass, and metal. Although no fee was charged for the exhibit, free-will donations totaled $1,382 for Rotary's challenge. |
| We want to hear from you! |
| If you have a success story, we'd love to hear from you! Please email us at: rotary's200millionchallenge@rotary.org
If you need a fundraising idea:
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| Social Networking |
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Rotarians, Rotaractors, and Interactors who are registered on www.facebook.com and www.myspace.com are urged to share their Rotary's challenge fundraising stories so others can gain ideas for launching fundraisers in their communities. | |
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| Fundraiser has magnetic appeal |
Cars in at least five countries are sporting End Polio Now magnets in a project initiated by the Rotary Club of Washago & Area-Centennial, Ontario, Canada. Cost of the magnets, measuring 3.15 inches by 3.9 inches (8 centimeters by 9.9 centimeters), is C$2 (US$1.60) each, with free shipping anywhere in North America. The club has raised more than C$1,400 (US$1,115) for Rotary's US$200 Million Challenge as of 21 January.
"Originally we wanted to sell one car magnet to every Rotarian in Canada, but the idea is really catching on and we have received orders from Rotary clubs in Germany, Switzerland, England, and the USA," says project chair Janet Stead, a member of the Washago & Area-Centennial club.
Stead came up with the idea for the project after seeing the End Polio Now lapel pin. "Most orders are coming from clubs who are ordering enough for their entire membership," she says. For more information, go to www.washagorotary.ca. |
| Golf balls rain down for Rotary's challenge |
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Golfers did a double-take when they saw golf balls falling from the sky above the driving range at Biltmore Golf Course in Coral Gables, Florida, on 31 October. A helicopter dropped the balls, 1,820 in all, from 100 feet above a flagged golf pin in the middle of the range as part of a fundraiser in support of Rotary's US$200 Million Challenge.
Rotarians in District 6990 (Grand Bahama Island, Bahamas; part of Florida, USA) paid $25 each for raffle tickets that corresponded to the numbered golf balls. Prize winners were determined by matching the numbers on the golf balls closest to the pin with numbers on the tickets.
"The first prize winner received a trip for two to Argentina donated by a Rotarian, the second prize winner received a Cartier watch, and the third prize winner received a weekend stay and brunch at a local Hyatt Regency," says District 6990 PolioPlus chair Noelle Galperin.
The effort netted $45,000 toward the district's 2008-09 commitment of $50,000 to Rotary's challenge.
"District 6990 plans to hold the fundraiser again next year and looks forward to topping this year's ticket sales," Galperin says. |
Rising to the Challenge
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Rotary's US$200 Million Challenge 2008 totals*
US$72.6 million
*As of 15 February, 2009
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| Polio Facts & Figures |
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For the latest on the number of polio cases, progress reports on polio-endemic countries, and other information, go to www.polioeradication.org. |
| Mobile giving |
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Rotarians and non-Rotarians in the United States can help support Rotary's fight against polio by texting POLIO to 90999 for a one-time $5 donation. Service is available on most carriers. Proceeds benefit The Rotary Foundation. All charges are billed by and payable to the user's mobile service provider. |
| Tools and Resources |
To promote support for global polio eradication, clubs and districts can order the following tools and resources from Publications Order Services at RI World Headquarters: e-mail: shop.rotary@rotary.org; tel.: 847-866-4600; fax: 847-866-3276; the international office serving your area; or the online RI Catalog at http://shop.rotary.org/catalog.
·New - Rotary's US$200 Million Challenge (985-DVD) provides an overview of Rotary's continuing efforts to eradicate polio and the fundraising initiative to match the Gates Foundation grants. Available in six languages for $15 each.
·New - Rotary's US$200 Million Challenge brochure (986-EN) describes Rotary's commitment to finish polio and encourages support for the challenge. Available free in nine languages.
·New - Rotary's US$200 Million Challenge poster (987-EN) encourages participation in the challenge. Suitable for display at Rotary meetings, fundraisers, and other events, it's available free (limit two per order) in nine languages.
·End Polio Now Pins (988) help raise awareness of the eradication effort. Available in lots of 100 for $50.
Watch polio eradication videos and public service announcements on the Rotary International channel of www.youtube.com, and include the link on Rotary club and district Web sites. |
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