PDG Jerry Casburn on ARF
PDG Jerry Casburn and The Rotary Foundation
Past District Governor Jerry Casburn addressed RCHP Mtg 1724 on Wed. 19Oct16 about The Rotary Foundation. Introduced by Pres. Mike McAuliffe, Jerry told us of the US$26.50 start to the fund in 1917 which has grown to be one of the worlds significant bodies dedicated to international understanding and world peace with well over US$1b in contributions to date, including in excess of US$250m in 2015-16.The current major project supported by the Foundation is the global eradication of polio. When started in 1988 the world had 350,000 cases of polio each year. With only 48 cases in 2015, it is anticipated that polio will have been wiped out by 2018.
Understanding the success of the polio eradication program, we were encouraged by Jerry to embrace a sense of ownership of our Foundation through contributions to the Annual Programs Fund, the Permanent Fund, and the Rotary Peace Centres to enable the Foundation to continue its progress on the Future Vision plan and align service projects with the six areas of focus, namely:
1 - Peace and conflict prevention/ resolution
2 - Disease prevention and treatment
3 - Water and sanitation
4 - Maternal and child health
5 - Basic education and literacy
6 - Economic and community development
Only 5% of donations is used for administration, 95% goes directly to the work of the Foundation. Australian donations are tax deductible.
Continuing the Rotary Club of Hyde Park support for The Rotary Foundation, Peter Griffiths thanked Jerry for his address and handed him our 2016 donation cheque for $1500 to be deposited in the Annual Fund of The Foundation.
A moment of levity for the evening came when Rob Handley broke ranks and had a Chocolate Sunday for dinner when all others had steak or roast or pizza or squid. (apologies for the blurry face Rob - you must have shaken your head due to brain freeze!!!)