COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Rotary club members in Coldwater and the surrounding area are among millions reaching out on World Polio Day, next Wednesday, October 24, to raise awareness and funds to end the vaccine preventable disease that still threatens children in parts of the world today.
Since Rotary and its partners launched the Global Polio Eradication Initiative 30 years ago, the incidence of polio has plummeted by more than 99.9 percent, from about 350,000 cases a year to only 22 cases in 2017 and only just 18 this year. To sustain this progress, and protect all children from polio, Rotary has committed to raising $50 million annually in support of global polio eradication efforts with every dollar donated to be matched with two dollars from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Rotary has contributed more than $1.8 billion to end polio since 1985, including over $25,000 contributed by local area Rotary Clubs. If you would like to donate to support this cause, you can contact your local Rotary club or visit endpolio.org .
Rotary brings together a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian problems, connecting 1.2 million members of more than 35,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas.
