Did you know that Rotary International's Foundation began 100 years ago? The first donation to the Foundation was $26.50.  To celebrate this milestone, each Rotarian throughout the world is being asked this Rotary year to donate $26.50, or for large clubs, $2650 in total to Polio Plus. Wouldn't it be wonderful if every Rotarian in our District 5280 would donate this amount to finish the job of eliminating polio forever? We already have clubs that have reached this goal. Can we count on your club to reach this goal? Last year, we were the first District in the world to have 100 percent of its members donate to Polio Plus. Let's do it again this year!

 
 

We have much to celebrate, as the number of cases that have been reported in 2016 is only 32 cases in three countries as of the last week in November, but the battle is not over!  Three cases appeared in Nigeria recently, which has been polio free for almost two years.  We need to keep our fellow Rotarians aware that we haven't reached the finish line yet!

There are many creative ideas to raise $26.50 per member.  Your club could have a wine and appetizers for a charge of $26.50 per Rotarian/couple (with members donating the wine and appetizers), hold a club sponsored "garage sale," have a bike ride with sponsors, or have a "walkathon" at a local high school with sponsors.  We have so many creative Rotarians, what can you share with your fellow clubs in our district as to how to raise money for polio?  

One easy way to get involved is through social media. Imagine if every Club in the world tweeted and posted about our goal to eliminate polio forever! That’s thousands of social media accounts across the globe sharing the message about polio eradication. 

Please let me help you in reaching this goal of a donation of $26.50 per club  I already have compiled multiple donor forms for every club in our District to help make the donation process easier. For more information, feel free to contact me at:

Shirley_giltzow@live.com

telephone: 310-377-2979

Shirley Giltzow

District 5280 Polio Plus Chair