Pennies for Polio

The mission of The Rotary Foundation is to enable Rotarians to advance world

understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty.

Pennies for Polio

•What is Polio?

Pennies for Polio

• Polio is: • A crippling and potentially fatal infectious disease, polio

(poliomyelitis) still strikes children mainly under the age of five in countries in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.

• Polio can cause paralysis and sometimes death.  Because there is no cure for polio, the best protection is prevention. For as little as US$0.60 worth of vaccine, a child can be protected against this crippling disease for life.   

• It can cause paralysis within hours, and polio paralysis is almost always irreversible. 

• In the most severe cases, polio attacks the motor neurons of the brain stem, causing breathing difficulty or even death.

• Historically, polio has been the world’s greatest cause of disability.

Pennies for Polio

• Challenges to polio eradication

Pennies for Polio

Four key strategies for stopping poliovirus transmission:

• Routine immunization .

• National Immunization Days

• Surveillance

• Targeted mop-up campaigns

Pennies for Polio

• “As an international community, we have few opportunities to do something that is unquestionably good for every country and every child, in perpetuity. Polio eradication is one of these opportunities.”

• - Dr. Margaret Chan, World Health Organization director-general

Pennies for Polio

Rotary has helped reduce the spread of polio throughout the world since 1985.

                           

Pennies for Polio

Finishing off polio worldwide remains Rotary’s top goal -- one child at a time !!

Pennies for Polio

• Eradicating Polio – The Great Task Ahead

The Rotary Documentary on polio eradication receives Oscar nod:

The Final Inch

Pennies for Polio

• How are Rotarians going to accomplish this most worthy and lofty goal?

• We have formed a partnership like no other, BUT we have work to do in each and every Rotary Club in the world !!

Pennies for Polio

• IDEAS????? I need your ideas !!

• Hold a raffle: Raffle off a car, a seven-night cruise, or four tickets to a local event, such as a basketball game or concert. Also consider holding weekly raffles with prizes from area restaurants or businesses. 

Pennies for Polio

• Skip a meal: Skip the meal at your club meeting and donate the cost to The Rotary Foundation to help eradicate polio.  

Pennies for Polio

• Host a Rotary night: Work with your local baseball league to host a Rotary night at a ball game. Both major and minor league teams have pitched in to help Rotary “strike out polio.” Auction off a chance to throw out the first pitch, and set up a booth in the park with information on Rotary and the challenge grant. Read how Rotarians organized a polio public service announcement at a baseball game .  

Pennies for Polio

• Organize a walkathon, bike-a-thon, or skate-a-thon: Have Rotarians, Rotary Fellowships, athletic groups, and other community members solicit pledges for the distance they walk, pedal, or skate. Read how a polio survivor cycled across Canada to help fight the disease .

Pennies for Polio

• Coordinate an online auction: Ask Rotarians, friends, and family to search their homes for items they wish to give away, including clothing, jewelry, furniture, and housewares. Collect the goods, and list them for auction on eBay.  

Pennies for Polio

• Plan a special event: Dinners, festivals, picnics, wine tastings, and sports competitions can all draw contributions from Rotarians and other community members.  

Pennies for Polio

• Sell a product: CDs, cookbooks, ties, teddy bears, and mugs are just a few of the items that have been sold to raise funds for PolioPlus.  

Pennies for Polio

• Hold a white elephant auction: Ask club members to donate gifts they do not want or need. Auction these items at a club or district meeting to raise money for polio eradication.

Pennies for Polio

• Coordinate a movie night: Work with local cinemas to organize a movie night in which all or part of the proceeds from admission benefit PolioPlus. Publicize the event in the newspaper, on the radio, and in all area Rotary clubs, and encourage everyone in the community to attend.

Pennies for Polio

• Host a million dollar dinner: Arrange a dinner with a district governor, Rotary senior leader, or local celebrity. Invite guests who can make a significant gift to Rotary’s polio eradication effort.  

Pennies for Polio

• Collect pennies for polio: Ask Rotarians, friends, and families to place coin collection cans or boxes in local businesses, schools, and homes. Donate the proceeds to the polio eradication effort.

Pennies for Polio

• How can we get the community involved with this project? Other Rotarians are:

• Working with local schools.• Working with Sororities and Fraternities at

your local colleges.• Working with other Organizations such as

the VFW, Moose, Kiwanis, and American Legions.

• Partnering with Community Event.

Pennies for Polio

• Jonathon Kaye will donate toward this cause: • 10 big trees installed and maintained for one

year (staking, mulching, watering)• Retail Value of $350, suggested Rotary selling

price of $175= $1750• 10 burning bushes or shrubs maintained for one

year (mulch and watering)• Retail Value of $50, suggested Rotary selling

price of $35= $350

Pennies for Polio

• I need your ideas and input to make this one of the most successful fundraisers that this club has ever had.

Pennies for Polio

• Videos for this powerpoint.

• http://www.rotary.org/en/ServiceAndFellowship/Polio/HelpEradicatePolio/Pages/ridefault.aspx

• http://www.rotary.org/en/MediaAndNews/News/Pages/090116_news_poliovideo.aspx

• http://www.rotary.org/en/ServiceAndFellowship/Polio/FactsAboutPolio/Pages/ridefault.aspx

Pennies for Polio

• http://www.rotary.org/en/ServiceAndFellowship/Polio/Timeline/Pages/ridefault.aspx

• http://www.rotary.org/en/MediaAndNews/News/Pages/090126_news_finalinchfilm.aspx

• http://www.rotary.org/en/MediaAndNews/News/Pages/090121_news_gatesvideo.aspx

Pennies for Polio

• Thank you in advance for your participation in this worthy cause.

• We will need everyone in the club to help!!

• Rick Hunt, Club President, 2008-09