Rotary's 'We Are This Close' Campaign Seeks to Eradicate Polio from the Globe

Rotary District 7570 Seeking Statewide Support to Leverage Gates Foundation Matching Donation

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Apr 23, 2015, 08:41 ET

SALEM, Va., April 23, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- For more than three decades, Rotary International has led the fight to eradicate polio from the globe. On May 19, 2015, Rotarian from district 7570, representing parts of western Virginia and northeastern-Tennessee, would like nothing more than to celebrate the completion of the "We Are This Close" campaign by announcing $750,000 towards that effort.

"Thanks to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, we have the opportunity to have every donated dollar matched, $2 for every $1," Rotary District 7570 Governor, Vivian Crymble, said. "Rotary has helped reduce polio cases by 99 percent worldwide since undertaking our first project to vaccinate children in the Philippines more than three decades ago, and with this match opportunity we'll be closer than ever to reaching that last one percent and eradicating polio around the globe."

To date, Rotary District 7570 still has $50,000 of the original goal of $250,000 yet to be raised and is asking for community support to leverage the full match in time for the regional "We Are This Close" celebration inside the Salem Civic Center on May 19^th.

"With the commitment from the Gates Foundation, every donated dollar is tripled and there is no better time to help end polio," Crymble said. "We are very close to that target and need community support to take us across the finish line."

Polio is often an afterthought in the United States, but parts of Nigeria, Afghanistan and Pakistan are still endemic, and as long as there are still cases the virus risks spreading. That's why Rotary International has spearheaded the massive coordinated vaccination program to eradicate it forever.

To date, Rotarians have helped immunize more than two billion children against polio in 122 countries.

About Rotary
Rotary brings together a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world's most pressing humanitarian challenges. Rotary connects 1.2 million members of more than 34,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas. Their work improves lives at both the local and international levels, from helping families in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world. For more information and to make donations, visit www.rotary.org or www.wearethisclose.com.

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SOURCE Rotary International