Our November 4 speaker was Bernie Reidel, Zone 33's End Polio Now Coordinator and a recent recipient of the Hilton Head Island Mayor's Honored Islander Award.
Rotary was first involved in eradicating polio via a $760-,00 5-year project in the Philippines. In 1985 the organization announced a $120 million project called Polio Plus, intended to raise $120 million over 3 years.
They actually raised $2437 million, and partnered with WHO, CDC and Unicef, and later joined with the Gates Foundation and GAVI.
Today, worldwide, there are 49 polio cases in Afghanistan and Pakistan, along with 200 other cases of vaccine-derived poliovirus.
Bluffton Rotary's donation goal was $5175, and we raised $5812. Our annual foundation goal was $28,875, and we raised $35,323.
We ranked 7th in our polio foundation goal in District 7770, but #2 in annual fund giving.
The ultimate goal is the eradication of polio, and we are all tasked with with supporting this. Please donate.
