FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 31, 2012

 

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has awarded The Rotary Foundation an additional US$50 million grant for polio eradication. The Gates Foundation awarded challenge grants to The Rotary Foundation in 2008 and 2009, totaling $355 million, to help end polio. In response, Rotary committed to raising a total of $200 million by June 30, 2012. The new $50 million grant from the Gates Foundation is in recognition of Rotary’s early achievement of this goal and of the need for continued funding support for the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. Indeed, progress is being made around the world toward the goal of polio eradication. India who as recently as 2010 was a country in the throws of a polio epidemic has seen a 99% drop in polio cases since 1988 and has just this month surpassed one year since the last reported case of polio in their country. This significant milestone is due in part to widespread efforts of Rotary and Gates Foundation efforts in both funding and volunteers on the ground administering vaccines and education. “We are proud of this achievement and of the local effort toward this campaign. 100% of Rotary West’s members have made contributions to the Rotary International Polio Plus initiative towards world-wide polio eradication,” said Dana Nichols, President of Cedar Rapids Rotary West. “The positive impact to lives around the world can be counted in the millions and it is our honor to be a part of this effort.”

 

About Cedar Rapids Rotary West – Chartered in 1980, Rotary West is Cedar Rapids’ second oldest Rotary Club, meeting at Noon each Wednesday at the Scottish Rite Temple. Rotary West members come from a variety of businesses and disciplines. The club supports a variety of programs, including Kirkwood scholarships, a project to bring fresh water to the village of Ave-Afiadenyigba, Ghana, and supporting a Rotary Interact club at Washington High School. www.crwestrotary.org

 

About Rotary International – Rotary is a global humanitarian organization with more than 1.2 million members in 34,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas. Rotary members are men and women who are business, professional and community leaders with a shared commitment to make the world a better place through humanitarian service. Rotary’s top priority is the global eradication of polio. www.rotary.org