November is Rotary Foundation Month.
The Rotary Foundation is the philanthropic foundation of Rotary International. The Rotary Foundation transforms your gifts into grants to service projects that change lives both close to home and around the world.
In 2016-17 the Rotary Foundation received US$304 million in total contributions worldwide: that included $140 million to the Annual Fund, $28 million to the Endowment Fund, and $108 million to PolioPlus. The Foundation approved 494 district grants and 1,260 global grants, with a total of $111 million in funding.
There were 17 grants in our District 9790 in 2016-17 including $1500 to Eltham Rotary for CAVE scholarships to assist families to meet the additional costs of primary students moving to secondary school. In this current year we have already received a grant of $2000 to support purchase of PC’s for Diamond Valley Learning Centre students.
Polio eradication is the number one priority of Rotary and the Foundation. In 2017 the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation increased its commitment to the polio eradication initiative, and will match 2:1 all Rotary contributions up to 50 million dollars for the next three years. If Rotarians raise $50 million per year, the Gates Foundation will match this with $100 million resulting in $150 million for polio eradication in each of the three years.
In 2016, 37 children were paralyzed worldwide by the wild polio virus. So far in 2017, that number stands at 13. We are on our way to zero! We have to keep doing everything we can do to End Polio Now, not only until the last case is reported, but until eradication is certified by an independent commission. It is expected that will happen at least three years from the last time wild polio virus is found in a child, a water supply, or anywhere else. Only then will we celebrate the end of polio—and the greatest work yet of Rotary and the Rotary Foundation.
Mark your diaries now for our next Eltham fundraiser for the Rotary Foundation:
On Sunday 11th February 2018, all Eltham Rotarians and partners are invited to a ‘Summer Luncheon on the Deck’ at Graeme and Lyn Hardiman’s beautiful home at Rye, overlooking the waters of Port Phillip. A delicious smorgasbord will be generously catered by our hosts in true Hardiman's style for just $30 a head and BYO drinks. Enjoy the beach, the views, the raffle and fun. You will receive a personal invitation with full details shortly – but mark your calendars now – this is a day not to be missed with proceeds to the Rotary Foundation.
