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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
partnershipbetween 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 Organizationand
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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