Rotary International and Gates Foundation commit $200 million to eradicate polio

Had you heard?

EVANSTON, Ill., U.S.A. (Nov. 26, 2007) -- Rotary International today announced a partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation that will inject a much-needed US$200 million into the global campaign to eradicate polio, a crippling and sometimes fatal disease that still paralyzes children in parts of Africa, Asia and the Middle East and threatens children everywhere.

The Rotary Foundation has received a $100-million Gates Foundation grant, which Rotary will raise funds to match, dollar-for-dollar, over three years. The Evanston-based volunteer service organization will spend the initial $100 million within one year in direct support of immunization activities carried out by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), a partnership spearheaded by the World Health Organization (WHO), Rotary International, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and UNICEF.

"The extraordinary dedication of Rotary members has played a critical role in bringing polio to the brink of eradication," says Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. "Eradicating polio will be one of the most significant public health accomplishments in history, and we are committed to helping reach that goal."

The polio eradication grant is one of the largest challenge grants ever given by the Gates Foundation and the largest grant received by Rotary in its 102-year history. Polio eradication has been Rotary’s top priority since 1985. Since then, Rotary has contributed $633 million to the eradication effort.

Read more here.

For video and photos go to: www.thenewsmarket.com/rotaryinternational
For more information visit http://www.polioeradication.org/

Rotary Shares

Let me pass along this message from Bill Carter, OrangeburgMorning Rotary President:
We who have been blessed so greatly have the opportunity to share with those who have been less fortunate. Taylor is coordinating with the Red Cross to identify needy families with whom we can share. This year's theme is "Rotary Shares". We would like to know how many of you would like to help adopt a family by buying one gift, or even adopt an entire family by buying a gift for each child in the family. Family size range for one to five children. You can even choose you size of family. Please let Bill or Taylor know if you would like to participate and at what level. Taylor will make sure the gifts get to the right families.

The Orangeburg Clubs Prepare for their Largest Annual Fundraiser

Is this the car of your dreams?

Or is this more your style?

Maybe this?

Orangeburg rotarians in both the Orangeburg Morning and the "lunch club" (Orangeburg Rotary) have tickets to the Feb 1, 2008 annual Rotary Rally at the Garden Room in the Orangeburg Mall. Purchase one, and you may win one of these vehicle, or choose from a dozen different vehicles. Second and third prize winners will also be chosen: you may win a weekend at Edistor Beach, or 2 tickets to the Heritage Golf Classic.

These prizes are our way of asking for support for our many local community programs, as well as for the opportunities we provide for students and other members of the community to grow into leaders.

Music will be profided by Riptide. The event itself is well worth the price of the admission. Tickets are $100 (a $20 spouse/guest ticket is available).