Polio Eradication Resources

A Brief History of Polio Plus

For Club Leaders - How to track pledges

Polio Raffle Info
Raffle Winners

Download the
March 2003
Feb/March 2003
January 2003
December 2002
November 2002 Newsletter (Word 17K)

Polio Eradication 2002-2003

March 2003 - Special Edition (web page)
The February/March Newsletter (web page)
The February/March NewsLetter (29K Word document)

Jonas Salk. Albert Sabin. Bill Gates. Rotarian {your name here}.

What do these four individuals have in common?

They each took personal responsibility for beating polio. Polio eradication, as you know, has been one of Rotary's ambitious goals for many years, and we now face the final chapters of this initiative with excitement. We are on the verge of achieving victory over this disease: the number of active polio cases has been reduced by 99% since 1985, and nearly 2 billion children have received the polio vaccine.

Victory is near, but our campaign is at a critical and urgent stage. The greatest obstacle to success is the need for additional funds - money needed to purchase vaccines and to cover the cost of delivering it to the children.

Because of Rotary's tremendous leadership and success in the PolioPlus campaign of the mid-1980's and over the past decade, we have been asked again for our help. We are the leading private sector partner in this cause, now the largest public health initiative in history. It is a great source of pride for us to say that we walk in partnership with the World Health Organization, the World Bank, Bill and Melinda Gates.

In this effort, there is no other option but success. To be successful, every single Rotarian must take personal responsibility. Please don't wait to be asked. Please give generously to the Polio Eradication Campaign through your club, your district, or directly to The Rotary Foundation. And feel proud of the company you keep.

- Susan Schwartzwald, Major Gifts Officer,
serving Zones 27, 28 and parts of 22