Gates Foundation aids Rotary program

Rotary International recently announced that the Bill and Melinda 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 Rotary’s PolioPlus program.

This partnership comes at a critical juncture for the polio eradication initiative, which needs an infusion of funds to reach the goal of a polio-free world. For this reason, the initial $100 million will be distributed by the Rotary Foundation through grants to the World Health Organization and UNICEF in direct support of polio immunization activities in 2008.

In 1985, Rotary International promised every child a world free from the threat of polio, and they are almost there. This funding agreement between Rotary and the Gates Foundation is a huge step forward, bringing them even closer to their goal.