Rotarians don’t shy away from a challenge

…So when the Gates Foundation challenged Rotary International to raise US$200 million, they set to work with gusto.

Rotarians around the world are involved in many facets of polio eradication; from raising funds, to spreading the polio eradication message, to vaccinating children. Rod Curtis/WHO

Back in 2007, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation issued Rotary International a challenge – raise US$ 100 million for polio eradication in the next three years, and the Foundation would chip in an extra US$ 100 million.

What the Gates Foundation probably did not expect was the enthusiasm with which this challenge was met. Within 12 months Rotary International’s global network of volunteers had already raised US$ 60 million.

So the Gates Foundation upped the ante; challenging Rotary to double their contribution by end-June 2012 in return for a US$ 355 million contribution from the Foundation. And wouldn’t you know it, Rotarians are already 93% of the way there – raising US$ 185 million with 10 months to spare.

For more on how Rotarians around the world are working in innovative ways to meet the $US 200 million challenge, read Rotary International’s story.