Rotary Club of Stowmarket

In 1985 Rotary International started a campaign to immunise the children of the world against polio. Rotary is a spearheading partner in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (the largest public health initiative the world has ever known) that has spanned 200 counties, utilised 20 million volunteers, immunised over 2 billion children, probably spared 5 million from disability and averted more than a million deaths.

Rotarians in polio-free countries actively partner with Rotarians in polio endemic and high risk countries to help provide vaccines, the essential social mobilisation and surveillance.

In December 2007, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation awarded the Rotary Foundation a challenge gift of US$100 Million.

Rotary Districts are challenged to raise an equivalent amount over the three years to December 2010. In effect this is a District contribution equivalent to $1,000 per Rotary Club in each of the three years.