Rotary Changes the World - April 9, 2007

ROTARY CHANGES THE WORLD

Several of Rotary’s major programs are listed here in brief – PolioPlus, Humanitarian Grants, and Disaster Recovery.

Polioplus. Rotarians have mobilized by the hundreds of thousands to ensure that children are immunized against this crippling disease and that surveillance is strong, despite the poor infrastructure, extreme poverty, and civil strife of many countries. Since the PolioPlus program’s inception in 1985, more than two billion children have received oral polio vaccine.

To date, 210 countries, territories, and areas around the world are polio-free and 134 have been certified.

3-H Grants. Health, Hunger, and Humanity Grants fund large-scale, multi-year projects around the world that enhance health, alleviate hunger, or improve human development. Since 1978, 287 projects in 75 countries have been funded at a cost of $74 million. In 2005-2006, 11 new projects were approved. Program awards were $3.1 million.

Disaster Recovery. Created in 2005-2006, this program allows Rotarians to contribute funds in response to specific disasters. During 2005-2006, the Rotary Foundation provided monies for three Disaster Recovery efforts: Hurricanes Stan and Wilma (Guatemala and Mexico), Hurricane Wilma (USA), and the Earthquake in India and Pakistan. Total contributions to the three accounts were $1.3 million. Total awards in 2005-2006 totaled $1.6 million.

For more information about Rotary, check the website http://www.rotaryanguilla.org or speak to any local Rotarian. The Rotary Club of Anguilla meets every Thursday evening at 6:00 p.m. upstairs at the English Rose.