Concert tickets going fast
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As of 15 February, 760 tickets remain for the Concert to End Polio, featuring violin virtuoso Itzhak PEerlman and the world-renowned Chicago Symphony Orchestra. The concert will be held at Symphony Center in Chicago on 7 March.
Concert tickets are priced between $50 and $200, while admission to a post-concert reception with Perlman is $150. All proceeds benefit Rotary's US$200 Million Challenge. Purchase tickets online or call 312-294-3000.
Itzhak Perlman/Photo by Akira Kinoshita
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| On target in Bermuda |
Bermuda's four Rotary clubs and visiting Rotarians from District 7230 (Bermuda; part of New York, USA) sponsored several polio awareness and fundraising events during the week of World Polio Day, 24 October.
A Targeting Polio archery competition and illumination of the Gibbs Hill Lighthouse, a local landmark, with the End Polio Now message helped raise public awareness. Rotarians sold End Polio Now stickers in Hamilton, and students at a school in Sandys dressed in purple (the color of the dye typically used to mark an immunized child's pinky finger) and made donations to Rotary's challenge.
The efforts netted more than US$14,510 and culminated in a dinner honoring Past District Governor Walter Maddocks, the first director of the PolioPlus fundraising campaign.
"To be playing a part in PolioPlus is the opportunity of a lifetime," Maddocks said.
 District 7230 Governor George Camp (left) and Assistant Governor Keith Clifton help target polio.
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| Benin media highlights polio |
Rotarians in Benin spread the word about polio eradication with a targeted media effort during the week of World Polio Day, 24 October. Ashok Mirchandani, vice chair of the African Regional PolioPlus Committee, gave a TV interview on the importance of polio eradication, while
This Close ads featuring Benin pop singer and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Zeynab Abib appeared in the West African country's five largest newspapers. |
Motorcycle fellowship rides for polio
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Members of the International Fellowship of Motorcycling Rotarians will ride to the RI Convention in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, in support of Rotary's challenge. Riders will contribute at least $1 per mile and procure pledges from friends and fellow Rotarians.
Groups of riders will leave from Sacramento, California; Seattle, Washington; Chicago; and Albany, New York. Clubs along the various routes are encouraged to send motorcyclists, make pledges, and hold "meet and greet" events as the riders pass through.
The motorcycling groups will meet in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on 19 May and make a grand entrance into New Orleans the following day. Learn more.
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Challenge fundraiser round-up
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″ A cake sale sponsored by the Rotary Club of Melton Valley, Victoria, Australia, in conjunction with District 9800 and a local food company has raised almost US$50,000 since 2008.
″ "Bowlio" -- a bowling for PolioPlus event sponsored by Rotarians in Yuma, Arizona, USA -- netted almost $3,500 in September.
″ A "Moonlight on the Marina" alfresco dinner dance sponsored by the Rotary Club of Noosa Heads Daybreak, Queensland, Australia, raised about US$3,000 in October.
″ Yola Hanan, 95, contributed $2,500 in honor of her brother, Andrew Lawrence Romeo, who contracted polio in 1915 at age 2. She made the donation through the Rotary Club of Pisgah Forest, North Carolina, USA. At right is Carol Hansen, assistant governor of District 7670.
″ Ohio State University and University of Michigan football fans raised $635 and $135, respectively, during a two-week text message competition in November, leading up to a game between the two schools (won by Ohio State).
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Large clubs pick up the challenge
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Nine large Rotary clubs are competing to raise the most in per capita contributions for PolioPlus. The contest resulted from a challenge made by Rotary Foundation Trustee Chair Carl-Wilhelm Stenhammar to all clubs with 200 or more members.
The club that achieves the highest per capita amount will win a trip for four people to attend a National Immunization Day in India. Here is how much the clubs, all in the United States, had raised as of 18 February.
| Club Name |
District |
Contribution Amount |
Per Capita |
| Cedar Rapids |
5970 |
$550.00 |
$1.77 |
| Dubuque |
5970 |
$12,475.00 |
$64.64 |
| Fayetteville |
6110 |
$35,283.13 |
$173.81 |
| Springdale |
6110 |
$7,469.28 |
$34.11 |
| Lexington |
6740 |
$2,500.00 |
$7.06 |
| Chattanooga |
6780 |
$105,725.00 |
$306.45 |
| Atlanta |
6900 |
$50,100.00 |
$102.04 |
| Gainesville |
6970 |
$3,940.00 |
$14.12 |
| Greenville |
7750 |
$38,721.67 |
$122.54 |
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| Fundraising key in Europe |
Through sales of End Polio Now key finders, Rotarians, Rotaractors, and RI staff in Switzerland and Lichtenstein raised nearly US$450,000 for Rotary's challenge, including more than $2,000 from staff in the RI Europe/Africa Office, from June through October.
Designed to attach to a key ring, each key finder has an identification number assigned to the owner. Lost keys can be dropped into any mailbox for delivery to an office that then returns the keys to their owner.
"The goal of our activities remains the complete eradication of polio in the world. Swiss and Liechtenstein Rotarians will fight for this great goal," said Past District Governor Urs Herzog, chair of the Switzerland PolioPlus Committee and a polio survivor.
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| RISING TO THE CHALLENGE |
| Rotary's US$200 Million Challenge totals* |
| US$163 M |
| *As of 25 February, 2011 |
| Polio Facts & Figures |
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| Area Number of cases in 2011 |
| Afghanistan |
1 |
| India |
1 |
| Nigeria |
0 |
| Pakistan |
8 |
| Non-endemic countries |
13 |
| Total worldwide |
23 |
| (Data as of 24 February '11/World Health Organization) |
For the latest on the number of polio cases, progress reports on polio-endemic countries, and other information, go to www.polioeradication.org.
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| End Polio Now Resources |
New!This Close print ads — Rotary's new This Close campaign features international and regional celebrities to spread the word about polio eradication. (Web only, free)
End Polio Now calendar — Showcases historic landmarks illuminated with the polio eradication message in a 2010-11 wall calendar. (961, US$10)
End Polio Now postcards — Feature the End Polio Now logo on one side and a description of Rotary's polio eradication efforts on the reverse. Sold in sets of 20. (979, US$1/set)
Rotary's US$200 Million Challenge DVD — Provides an overview of Rotary's efforts to eradicate polio and the initiative to match the Gates Foundation grants. (985, US$15)
Rotary's US$200 Million Challenge brochure — Describes Rotary's commitment to end polio and encourages support for the challenge. (986, free)
Amazing Stories of Polio! — Offers a 16-page illustrated history of polio and Rotary's eradication efforts. English only. (976, $0.75)
PolioPlus Headliner Kit— Includes a sample news feature, a press release, an opinion piece, and a letter to the editor to promote Rotary's polio eradication efforts. (Web only, free)
Rotary's US$200 Million Challenge poster — Encourages participation in the challenge. (987, free, limit two per order)
End Polio Now lapel pins — Sold in lots of 100. (988, $50/lot)
End Polio Now Promotional Kit- Promote Rotary's polio eradication efforts with the materials in this new kit. (962-KIT)
Clubs and districts can order materials online at
shop.rotary.org, from RI Publications Order Services (e-mail: shop.rotary@rotary.org; tel.: 847-866-4600; fax: 847-866-3276), or from their local international office.
Ways to contribute
Donate directly to Rotary's challenge online.
In the United States, Canada, and Australia, donors can automatically transfer funds electronically to Rotary's challenge or EREY by enrolling in TRF-DIRECT. E-mail us for more information.
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Text POLIO to
contribute US$5 |
| Rotarians and non-Rotarians in the United States can help support polio eradication by texting POLIO to 90999. |
| A one-time donation of $5 will be added to your mobile phone bill or deducted from your prepaid balance. You will also receive up to 1 message per day from The Rotary Foundaton Alerts. Msg&Data Rates May Apply. All charges are billed by and payable to your mobile service provider. Service is available on most carriers. Donations are collected for the benefit of The Rotary Foundaton by the mGive Foundation and subject to the terms found at www.mGive.com/A. To unsubscribe text STOP to 90999, for help text HELP to 90999. Privacy Policy http://mgive.com/PrivacyPolicy.aspx. |
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