by Marilyn Bedell
Endowment/Major Gift Advisor for Zone 32
Greetings,
As 2020 draws to a close, I continue to reflect on how different our environment was just a year ago. In December 2019, we would have found it unimaginable to believe that a communicable disease would be disrupting our routine way of life. I’m sure that many of you are aware of individuals who have been severely impacted by COVID-19. Some of us are only aware of the illness based on what is being reported in the print, visual, and social media.
As a retired nurse, I hear about the impact of COVID-19 on our local rural academic medical center. My colleagues there continue to see a steady stream of cases of COVID-19 requiring hospitalization. They worry about what may lay ahead as they hear from their peers in hot spots. A vaccine can’t come soon enough. The medical center’s leadership are imploring all of us to mask up, wash hands frequently, and social distance. I feel fortunate that we have solid leadership at our medical center who are equally focused on the physical, mental and social wellbeing of our frontline and support staff. We will need them to be healthy and available if cases continue to rise.
So how does this relate to the Rotary Foundation?
I recently heard a presentation from Mike McGovern, Chair International PolioPlus Committee. He reminded us that when polio was rampant in North America, there were some of the same fears about spreading disease and that our healthcare systems would become overwhelmed with patients requiring iron lungs. The machines were important but having skilled healthcare workers to operate the equipment was equally essential for managing respiratory distress caused by polio.
He shared that as Rotarians, we need to keep in mind that all the work we have done with the CDC, UNICEF, WHO, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation have positioned us once again to be important partners in the work that is needed now, and will be needed when vaccines are ready to be administered to every person around the globe. Read about our response to COVID-19 at https://www.rotary.org/en/rotarys-response-coronavirus-pandemic
If you are able, please consider making a contribution to the Rotary Foundation prior to the end of the year. Major gifts do make a major impact, and now might be the right time for you to consider such an opportunity. Major gifts to Polio, the Annual Programs Fund/Share and to the Endowment will be essential to helping us confront some of the pressing humanitarian problems facing the globe including COVID-19 now and into the future. If you would like more information about ways to give, including a three-year pledge option, please contact me at m.k.bedell@comcast.net or Zone 32 Major Gifts Officer Amanda Lawson at (847) 866-3239.
Be safe, I hope you can stay healthy, wash your hands often, wear a mask and limit your time with those beyond your household to not only protect yourself, but others…especially those you love.
Just think of all the stories you will be able to share about this time in our history. Small sacrifices now will benefit so many.