ALLISTON, Ontario, 06/20/2017 - Rotary’s signature international program is polio eradication. We have been at this now since 1988, along with WHO, UNICEF, CDC, and more recently the Gates Foundation and the Canadian government.  Other governments have been contributors as well. 
As a result, there have been only 6 cases reported so far this year (Afghanistan and Pakistan). In 2016 there were 37 cases reported worldwide in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria.
                                                                                   
As of June 2016, Rotarians and other Rotary sources have raised $1.07B.  The Gates Foundation and the Canadian government are committed to matching our funds. For that, and other reasons, there is cause for optimism.  Rotarian Bob Scott, past International Chair of the PolioPlus Committee and a member of the Cobourg Rotary Club, told us at the District Assembly in May that the Pakistani government has recommitted to funding our polio eradication program and will make sure that Rotarians and health workers in that country are able to do this vital work.
 
And this is how Rotary uses our funds in the fight against polio.
Besides the vaccine, there are other infrastructure needs in this fight – our funds secure:

• 256,428 health staff to deliver the vaccine
• 6751 vehicles
• 1530 motorbikes
• and 1150 carts

We encourage all Rotarians to consider The Rotary Foundation our charity of choice.  It is one of the top four charities in the world as rated by Charity Navigator, largely because of the way in which it is administered and the sustainable work it supports.  Also 90% of the money raised is used directly in the field.
 
It is very easy to donate to The Rotary Foundation:

• A cheque payable to The Rotary Foundation Canada
• On-line through the website
• Automatic withdrawal
• Foundation walk on Sunday, September 10 in wonderful Whitby along the shore of Lake Ontario.  This is our major district-wide event to raise money for The Annual Programs Fund.

No matter how you donate, you can always determine which program you wish your money to support.
Your Foundation Committee:  Ralph, Shirley, Art, Paul K., Roxanne, and Joan.  You will hear more from us throughout the year and closer to the time of the walk.

This June we are celebrating the 100^th anniversary of our Foundation and its ability to do good in the world.
The vision began at International Convention in June, 1917 when president Arch Klumph announced the establishment of an endowment fund. An initial donation of $26.50 was made – since then we have spent $3 billion on a wide variety of humanitarian projects:

• 1930 we focused on children’s health and in 2017 we are on the verge of eradicating polio. Bill Gates has publicly said that without Rotary’s involvement right from the beginning the campaign wouldn’t be anywhere; it is unprecedented.
• 1947 we began to focus on global understanding, with funding for scholarships for international study – in 2017 we are training the next generation of global peacemakers at 6 university centres in 4 continents.
• 1965 we established GSE to establish global professional connections – 1n 2017 we are expanding the reach of our professional base through VTT.
• 1965 we funded project grants to clubs to broaden the impact of their work – from 1978 our grants grew and took on specific focuses for larger projects that are measurable and sustainable.

From its humble beginnings 100 years ago, Arch Klumph’s vision has become our legacy
 
The fund of our Foundation that supports our domestic and most of our international work is the Annual Programs Fund. Rotarians and friends donate to it, in our district mainly through our annual Foundation Walk in September. Of the money we raise each year for the Annual Fund, 50% comes back to the district for projects and programs and 50% stays with the World Fund. Our club in the past has received matching funds from our district for small project work in Alliston and Tanzania, for example.  
The World Fund supports large global grants to clubs, scholarships for international study and work, and vocational training teams of professional men and women who share their expertise with their counterparts in the developing world. Again our club has received a global grant for our Tanzanian work.  We have a team of 6 Alliston Rotarians going to Ukraine in October to assess a large project with the Rivne Rotary Club.  This could lead to a global grant next year.  So The Rotary Foundation is a significant partner for us.
 
Besides the Annual Fund, the Foundation runs an Endowment Fund that looks to provide future stability for on-going development work. The principal in this fund is not spent; however, the interest is earmarked for the World Fund. 
Funds are raised for the Endowment Fund in various ways:  people who donate $1000 to the Foundation in their estate planning become Benefactors. Major donors are those who donate outright at least $10,000 to the Endowment Fund.  Our committee will be looking for at least one new major donor in the coming Rotary year. 
 
Members of the Arch Klumph Society are major donors who give outright gifts of $250,000 to the Endowment Fund.  Our district has added 4 new Arch Klumph Society members this Rotary year.  A very generous gift indeed.
 
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