PolioPlus
Since 1985 members of Capital Rotary have been allied with more than 1 million other Rotarians around the world in a monumental initiative to eradicate polio. Thanks to the financial support of clubs like ours, Rotary International has contributed over $1.3 billion to immunize some 2.5 billion children in 122 countries. In addition, Rotary’s advocacy played a role in decisions by donor governments to contribute more than $9 billion to the effort.
Rotary International’s PolioPlus partnership includes the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which issued a $100 million challenge grant in 2007. In 2013 the Gates Foundation offered to match PolioPlus contributions on a 2-to-1 basis for five years (up to $35 million per year).
Grateful that polio ceased to be a health threat in our community long ago, Capital Rotary now looks forward to the day when this dread disease is ended for good globally.