Rotary's New Partnership

Posted by Michael Koehne

New partnership between Rotary International and The Gates Foundation on Polio Eradication

ROTARY INTERNATIONAL a n d

THE ROTARY FOUNDATION

Dear Fellow Rotarians,

This is a historic day for Rotary. It is our great pleasure to inform you of a new

partnership between Rotary International and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation that

will provide a much needed US$200 million in support of our top goal of a polio-free

world.

The Gates Foundation has awarded The Rotary Foundation a challenge grant of $100

million, which Rotary will match, dollar for dollar, over three years. This is the largest

single grant ever given to a volunteer service organization and represents a tremendous

validation of the approach and success of our PolioPlus program.

This partnership comes at a critical juncture for the polio eradication initiative, which

needs an infusion of funds to reach the eradication goal. For this reason, the initial

$100 million will be distributed by The Rotary Foundation through grants to the World

Health Organization and UNICEF in direct support of polio immunization activities in

2008.

Your participation in this effort is crucial to making it a success. The Rotary

International Board of Directors and the Trustees of The Rotary Foundation have

unanimously agreed to accept this challenge grant to ensure the success of the

PolioPlus program. We feel confident that this extraordinary commitment from the

Gates Foundation and Rotary will serve as a catalyst for further donations from others

to help us realize the dream of a polio-free world.

In 1985, we promised every child a world free from the threat of polio, and we are

almost there. This funding agreement between Rotary and the Gates Foundation is a

huge step forward, bringing us even closer to our goal. Success is our only option.

Wilfrid J. Wilkinson Robert S. Scott

Rotary International, President 2007-08 The Rotary Foundation, Chairman 2007-08

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