Rotary's New Partnership
ROTARY INTERNATIONAL a n d
THE ROTARY FOUNDATION
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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
For more information visit:
http://www.rotary.org/en