Bill Gates announces new US$255 million grant for ending polio By Arnold R. Grahl and Dan Nixon Rotary International News January 2009

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1 第 1 頁, 共 7 頁 Bill Gates announces new US$255 million grant for ending polio By Arnold R. Grahl and Dan Nixon Rotary International News January 2009 The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has awarded US$255 million to Rotary International in the global effort to eradicate polio, bringing the total committed by Rotary and the Gates Foundation to $555 million. Shortly after meeting with incoming district governors from the four countries where the wild poliovirus is endemic -- Afghanistan, India, Nigeria, and Pakistan -- Bill Gates announced the new grant on Wednesday morning at the International Assembly in San Diego, California, USA. Rotarians, government leaders, and health professionals have made a phenomenal Bill Gates announces a new US$255 million grant for commitment to get us to a point at which polio ending polio at the 2009 International Assembly in San Diego, California, USA. Photo by Rotary afflicts only a small number of the world s Images/Monika Lozinska-Lee children, Gates said. However, complete elimination of the poliovirus is difficult and will continue to be difficult for a number of years. Rotary in particular has inspired my own personal commitment to get deeply involved in achieving eradication. "We are going to end polio now," affirmed Robert S. Scott, chair of RI's International PolioPlus Committee. In response to the new $255 million Gates Foundation grant, Rotary will raise $100 million in matching funds. In November 2007, RI received a $100 million Gates Foundation grant, which Rotary committed to match by raising $100 million. The two Gates Foundation challenge grants now total $355 million. Rotary International s matching

2 第 2 頁, 共 7 頁 effort in response is called Rotary s US$200 Million Challenge, which must be completed by 30 June The $255 million grant is one of the largest challenge grants ever given by the Gates Foundation and the largest received by Rotary in its 104-year history. Rotary will spend the grant in direct support of immunization activities carried out by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, which is spearheaded by RI and its partners, the World Health Organization, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and UNICEF. Rotary will distribute the funds through grants to WHO and UNICEF. The participation of Rotary clubs and individual Rotarians in Rotary s US$200 Million Challenge remains crucial to its success. Rotary has raised nearly $73 million toward this amount: $62 million in contributions and $11 million in commitments. Each club is being challenged to organize a public fundraiser annually for the next three years. In October, The Rotary Foundation Trustees approved special Paul Harris Fellow Recognition, which begins 1 July, featuring a certificate with the End Polio Now logo. Polio eradication has been Rotary s top priority since 1985, with more than $1.2 billion contributed to the effort. Gates praised Rotary for providing the volunteers, advocates, and donors who have helped bring about a 99 percent decline in the number of polio cases. The world would not be where it is without Rotary, and it won t get where it needs to go without Rotary, he said. The final hurdle still is ahead, said RI President-elect John Kenny. This grant shows that the Gates Foundation is just as committed as Rotary to ridding the world of this disease, he said. Gates also shared with the incoming district governors and Rotary leaders a story from his trip to India in November, when he held a nine-month-old girl afflicted with polio in his arms in a slum in East Delhi. She obviously didn t understand why people were poking her legs and looking so serious. But she ll never be able to kick a ball around, never be able to play hide-and-seek with her friends, because she has polio, Gates said. As I held Hashmin, I thought, We can end this. We don t know exactly when the last child will be affected. But we do have the vaccines to wipe it out, he said. Countries do have the will to deploy all the tools at their disposal. If we all have the

3 第 3 頁, 共 7 頁 fortitude to see this effort through to the end, then we will eradicate polio. In addition, the governments of the United Kingdom and Germany announced they have respectively committed $150 million and $130 million to eradicate polio, which will not count toward Rotary s challenge. Government support is key to polio eradication efforts, said Scott. Learn more See the video of Gates making the announcement Donate US$5 to polio via text message Watch a video about what it takes to eradicate polio Read more about polio Find resources about RI's polio eradication efforts Read the joint letter about polio from the RI president and Rotary Foundation chair Donate now to help Rotary achieve a polio-free world. 35 Comments: At 9:03AM on 4 May 2009, Okey Okere wrote: I get encouraged & committed anytime I learn about Bill & Millinda Gates donations towards a Rotary Project. I wish I have money, I would have matched them in appreciation. May God grant this couples long life to do more good to humanity.. At 2:49PM on 27 March 2009, Mohammed Raffi wrote: It is great of Bill Gates that he is having good heart of giving fund for polio.he has invented windows for computer. but doors for eradicate polio which is main goal of rotary international all citizen of world should take Bill Gates as example. At 10:53AM on 23 March 2009, Howard Letter wrote: Well done to Rotary and the foundation. You are truly inspirational! At 9:53AM on 24 February 2009, Dilip Pagariya - wrote: Indeed Rorary is honored to have patrons like Bill and Melinda Gates! Its not too hard for someone who built microsoft, who also happens to be the richest man in the world to gauge the Rotary's commitment to its only pledge - eradication of Polio. This magananimous gesture will augment our efforts to drive out polio from face of this earth!! PP Dilip Pagariya - RC of Mumbai Andheri, Dist At 1:23PM on 5 February 2009, jayesh sanghavi wrote: we all know that Bill gates is the richest in the world. But by awarding this additional grant to Rotary,

4 第 4 頁, 共 7 頁 he has become the superlative to richest. He has won many hearts and earned a lot of blessings...kudos to him and Melinda At 9:52AM on 4 February 2009, Mrs A. S Abubakar wrote: Polio eradication has been Rotary s top priority for long ago. this contribute greatly toward the succes of polio eradication. yet the disease is not completely gone more especially in under develop country like my county Nigeria. i really appreciate bill gates effort i hope many will do so. Coordinator:kano state Awareness for Polio Eradication [KASAPE] At 9:13AM on 28 January 2009, Rtr. Antigha Ita wrote: Service to humanity is the duty we owe as members of the Rotary family, hence I appreciate more, if not most the kind gesture of Rotary & Gates foundation to polio eradication. I am indeed grateful to all those who give the little and sometimes all that they own to save the lifes of others. We may not know how much our little mean to others, therefore I want to urge every human who has life to donate to other peoples life as their blessings are without number. END POLIO NOW!!! At 9:15AM on 28 January 2009, Rtn Umesh S Chikmath wrote: thanks to bill gate for his generous gift to the polio eradication At 9:49AM on 28 January 2009, Jon Stillman wrote: The eradication of Polio remains the top priority for Rotary International and its' Foundation. We must meet the Gate's challenge if we are to keep our promise to the children of the world. Thanks to Bill and Melinda Gates for joining the effort and for believing in us as an organization. We have no choice but to make the eradication of polio reality. At 1:02PM on 27 January 2009, meniru onyia wrote: its great to hear of bill Gates donation that will help At 1:00PM on 27 January 2009, Rotr.fatima Ahmed wrote: wow i wish i could shed easy tears like other girls easily but Gates and their foundation are one in a million i contribute my quota by helping however way i can people around me,i still feel its not enough,when i begin to earn what i work for i promise to add to the grant what i can to see that such epidemic is wiped out from the universe At 12:57PM on 27 January 2009, Hal Harsin wrote: As a physician, I have a great appreciation for the ravages of polio. The Challange Grants from the Gates Foundation will go a long way toward eradication of polio. The major problem, however, is the conflict in the endemic countries. I doubt that polio will be eliminated there until the conlicts are resolved. At 3:11PM on 26 January 2009, RTN. SYED AZMATULLAH RC: CHENNAI PHOENIX RD: 3230 wrote: The $255 million grant, the largest challenge grants ever given by the Gates Foundation and the largest received by Rotary in its 104-year history, bringing the total commitment to $555 million, confirms the magnitude and multitude of the PolioPlus Project. Rotarians associated with the project should get fresh lease of vigour. At 12:55PM on 26 January 2009, APPIADU YAW wrote:

5 第 5 頁, 共 7 頁 thanks to Mr. bill for this wonderful donation towards polio eradication. At 11:44AM on 26 January 2009, ashok gupta wrote: this is very exciting news i heard since i moved from india yr 1977and became very active member of rotary distt 6380.hats off to gates family At 1:52PM on 26 January 2009, Joe Bowe wrote: What a moment when this compassionate idea of ending Polio is combined with the financial generosity of the Gates Foundation and propelled into motion by Rotarians results in someone knowing that someone cares At 1:54PM on 26 January 2009, Kim Kim wrote: Our club's goal for this year is to reach 100$ Paul Harris Fellow Club. 160 members are trying hard to reach that goal all contributions will go to eradicate the polio. As of today, we have contributed over $30,000 dollars. There is no reason why we can't eradicate the polio. the time is now. If not now, then when? Please be a Paul Harris Fellow now, If you are already one, do it every year for your loved ones and family members. I just love being a Rotarian. At 4:41PM on 26 January 2009, RTN DR VIKAS JAIN wrote: It is like dream coming true for the rotarty world,when Bill and Melinda gates foundation, Bill Gates declared another 255 million $ for polio eradication from the entire world, we as rotarians promise to make all efforts to match this grant and show macro work, by doing best immunization efforts in the grey areas of india. Dr Vikas Jain, President ELect, Rotary CLub of Vapi, INDIA At 1:46PM on 26 January 2009, Charles Fisher wrote: I think that the present generation, in the USA, has not seen what polio does to it's victims. If they did, as my generation did, they would feel diferently about contributing At 4:41PM on 26 January 2009, Michel P. Jazzar wrote: Keep high the credibility of our International Organization and its Foundation. Keep our endorsement. The credibility of RI is now known worldwide. We have reached our Rotary vision which is " universally recognized for our commitment to Service Above Self to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace." At 4:42PM on 26 January 2009, Jerold Mullane wrote: It's truly maverlous what the Bill Gates foundation is doing. This is an incentive to all Rotarians to pleaged the matching funds needed to fullfil Rotary's part. At 10:13AM on 23 January 2009, SAM OKUDZETO. TRUSTEE wrote: An African adage states "when you kill a snake you should no asume it is dead until you have cut its head. Bill Gates has challenges us Rotarians not give up until the we cut off the Polio head then we can be sure it is dead. The worlds larger philantropist has sufficient confidence in the ability of Rotarians to "END POLIO NOW" an affirmation and trust in Rotary. Let us join Bill Gates by donating generously towards the "200 Million Challenge" At 4:44PM on 26 January 2009, Md. Shawkat Hossain, Habigonj, Bangladesh wrote: Thanks Bill Gates and thier Foundation. It is good example for humanity. I hope, Polio will be eradicated very soon. Thank you all.

6 第 6 頁, 共 7 頁 At 4:45PM on 26 January 2009, Premal Smart wrote: THERE CAN NOT BE A BETTER TEAM THAN ROTARY & BILL GATES TO PUT THE RESOURCES TO TO THE BEST USE. EVERYONE'S WHO READS THIS NEWS, THERE WILL BE A SINGLE THOUGHT THAT WILL COME IS "POLIO WILL CERTAINLY BE WIPED OUT FROM THE FACE OF EARTH". MAY ALMIGHTY KEEP ON SHOWERING HIS CHOICEST BLESSINGS ON ROTARY & GATES FOUNDATION At 4:47PM on 26 January 2009, DGN Scaria Jose wrote: The Future of Rotary will depend on how successfully we meet Gates Foundation challenge grants for $355 million. If we meet the challenge fast, more organizations will seek our help to make World a better place to live in Let us work together to make Rotary the hope of millions around a globe At 4:47PM on 26 January 2009, Joseph Sebastine wrote: Wow, the largest challenge grant totalling to US$:355 million given by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to Rotary International in the global effort to eradicate polio is indeed the recognition of Rotary s impressive fundraising success and steadfast commitment to polio eradication. No doubt, it will be a great motivation to Rotarians all over the World to foster personal commitment in achieving eradication. The commitments of $150 million and $130 million respectively by governments of the United Kingdom and Germany to eradicate polio is equally laudable. At 3:44PM on 22 January 2009, Frank Hart-Venn wrote: In the current climate, the Gates concern for humanity and the aid Rotary International needs to fulfil its pledge transcends the pessismism surrounding the financial needs to help the underprivileged. This partnership adds great strength and value to the work of our great organisation! At 9:30AM on 22 January 2009, Tony Betts from the Rotary Club of Redbridge (District 1130) wrote: Mr Gates s announcement on January 21, 2009 is marvellous and as Rotarians we are so fortunate that The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation are so firmly supporting our long campaign in eradicating polio. At 9:29AM on 22 January 2009, Sherie MacLachlan wrote: WOW - What a touching to receive. As President of the Watford Rotary Club in Ontario, CA, we will certainly see that we have a fundraiser for the next three years in support of this challenge. Thank you to all!! At 9:25AM on 22 January 2009, Rtn Imam Malek wrote: The announcement of Bill Gates for usd 265million will achieve the goal and hope the world will be free from fatal disease of Polio At 9:25AM on 22 January 2009, Rtn. C.J. Singh wrote: Hats off to Bill & Milinda Gates Foundation for their concern towards humanity. I am sure, Rotarians would rise up to this occasion and match it much before the deadline. At 9:24AM on 22 January 2009, GBEMI TIJANI MST wrote: The GATES/RI ARMORY AGAINST POLIO SHOULD BE SUSTAINED AS ONE ONE THE

7 第 7 頁, 共 7 頁 GREATEST TESTS OF COMPASSION IN THE MILLENIUM YEARS.AS UNESCO EXPERTS COPINE :NORMAL MAN IS BOUND TO SUCCEED THEN PARASITICALLY IMPAIRED HUMAN BEINGS SHOULD BE VACCINATED /TREATED TO SURVIVE AND LIVE TO FULFIL DREAMS.ALL ROTARIANS & CONSCIENTIOUS,SUPER ABUNDANTLY BLESSED PHILANTROPISTS,NGOS,GOVERNMENTS -LOCAL/STATE S SUPPORT THE ERADIATIONN TASK.THIS IMPLIES GIVING MORALLY,MATERIALLY & FINANCIALLY.NO REGRET IN ALL BECAUSE THE LORD RETURNS THE SELFLESS GIVER IN BUSHELS WITH CARTLOADS.GOD' WILLING BILL GATES CONTINOUSLY STREAMING SUPER ABUNDANT PROSPERITY WITHIN & BEYOND MICROSOFT. GBEMI,RC.OF OLUYOLE ESTATE,D9130NIGERIA At 9:24AM on 22 January 2009, Joan Toone, President PPASS BC wrote: As the president of a Post Polio Syndrome group and the wife of a Rotarian, I am awed by the generosity of the Gates Foundation. Between them and Rotary International and its partners, polio WILL be eradicated soon and the children of the world will be safe from this terrible disease. At 9:23AM on 22 January 2009, Pat Merryweather wrote: This is truly amazing -- what a gift to the entire world --- Rotary and Gates Foundation continue to make a difference in the lives of so many in need. I was recently in India with fellow Rotarians Prakash Tata and Chuck Newman on a water project and we were able to participate in the Polio NID ---- a truly heartwarming and inspiring experience to see so many Rotarians and volunteers working together and committed to achieving a world health goal. We are very close to making the world polio free - what an amazing gift to this and future generations! At 4:52PM on 21 January 2009, Miller C. Lovett wrote: Wow, wow, wow! As a polio victum when I was 13, I have followed happenings with polio for decades. The Gates/Rotary challenge surpasses all other efforts., And as a Rotary member I am part of it! Copyright 2009 Rotary International

Achieving One Year without Polio in Africa by Quentin Wodon

Achieving One Year without Polio in Africa by Quentin Wodon This brief is part of a series of seven briefs/case studies on increasing the impact of Rotary. If Rotary is to have a larger impact globally,