Why We Should Celebrate
Posted by Dave Green
Ten or so reasons to celebrate Rotary's Birthday
Rotary International, founded on February 23, 1905 in Chicago, Illinois USA, is the world’s first and one of the largest non-profit service organizations; and
There are over 1.2 million Rotary club members comprised of professional and business leaders in over 33,000 clubs in 200 countries and geographic areas; and
The Rotary motto “Service Above Self” inspires members to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards, and promote good will and peace in the world; and
Rotary funds club projects and sponsors volunteers with community expertise to provide medical supplies, health care, clean water, food production, job training, and education to millions in need, particularly in developing countries; and
Rotary in 1985 launched PolioPlus and spearheaded efforts with the World Health Organization, U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and UNICEF to immunize the children of the world against polio; and
Polio cases have dropped by 99 percent since 1988 and the world stands on the threshold of eradicating the disease; and
To date, Rotary has contributed nearly US$950 million and countless volunteer hours to the protection of more than two billion children in 122 countries; and
Rotary has raised all of the $200 million to match the challenge grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for a total US $355 million plus; and
These efforts are providing much needed operational support, medical personnel, laboratory equipment and educational materials for health workers and parents; and
In addition, Rotary has played a major role in decisions by donor governments to contribute over $4 billion to the effort; and
Rotary is the world’s largest privately-funded source of international scholarships and promotes international understanding through scholarships, exchange programs and humanitarian grants; and
About 40,000 students from 130 countries have studied abroad since 1947 as Rotary Ambassadorial Scholars; and
Rotary’s Group Study Exchange program has helped more than 67,,000 young professionals explore their career fields in other countries; and
7,000 secondary-school students each year experience life in another country through Rotary’s Youth Exchange program;
Happy 107th Birthday Rotary
There are over 1.2 million Rotary club members comprised of professional and business leaders in over 33,000 clubs in 200 countries and geographic areas; and
The Rotary motto “Service Above Self” inspires members to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards, and promote good will and peace in the world; and
Rotary funds club projects and sponsors volunteers with community expertise to provide medical supplies, health care, clean water, food production, job training, and education to millions in need, particularly in developing countries; and
Rotary in 1985 launched PolioPlus and spearheaded efforts with the World Health Organization, U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and UNICEF to immunize the children of the world against polio; and
Polio cases have dropped by 99 percent since 1988 and the world stands on the threshold of eradicating the disease; and
To date, Rotary has contributed nearly US$950 million and countless volunteer hours to the protection of more than two billion children in 122 countries; and
Rotary has raised all of the $200 million to match the challenge grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for a total US $355 million plus; and
These efforts are providing much needed operational support, medical personnel, laboratory equipment and educational materials for health workers and parents; and
In addition, Rotary has played a major role in decisions by donor governments to contribute over $4 billion to the effort; and
Rotary is the world’s largest privately-funded source of international scholarships and promotes international understanding through scholarships, exchange programs and humanitarian grants; and
About 40,000 students from 130 countries have studied abroad since 1947 as Rotary Ambassadorial Scholars; and
Rotary’s Group Study Exchange program has helped more than 67,,000 young professionals explore their career fields in other countries; and
7,000 secondary-school students each year experience life in another country through Rotary’s Youth Exchange program;
Happy 107th Birthday Rotary