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Dear Family & Friends of Rotary:
We show that we put into practice our motto of Service Above Self. Below is the Press Release that appears at the UNICEF WEBSITE: Rotary extends polio partnership with UNICEFBy Jane O’Brien 29 September 2005 – UNICEF is to extend cooperation with one of its most important partners in the campaign to wipe out polio. Rotary International has provided more than $180 million to UNICEF for this work and encourages governments to give practical support for the eradication initiative. “UNICEF occupies a very special position for Rotary,” said Frank Devlyn, Trustee Chairman of The Rotary Foundation at today’s meeting of the UNICEF Executive Board. “We are trying to save children’s lives and this partnership has proved that we can do that. It’s proved that an organization such as Rotary can come together with UNICEF and do so much more together.” The Rotary-UNICEF partnership on polio started in 1988 when the World Health Assembly resolved to eradicate the disease. Rotary’s assistance has provided grants to buy oral vaccines and has helped carry out National Immunization Days in countries around the world. Rotary members work with UNICEF staff to coordinate activities on the ground. ‘We have an obligation to the world’ In the late 1980s there were 350,000 cases of polio every year in 125 countries. Since the eradication efforts began, the number of cases has been reduced by more than 99 per cent. There are now just six countries where the virus is endemic. Mr. Devlyn believes polio could be eradicated by 2006. “We are on the right track and if it isn’t [eradicated] we are going to continue working on it,” he says. “We are not going to give up. We are going to continue. “People who ask for money get what they call donor fatigue and people who are giving call it giving fatigue. But we are not going to be fatigued. We are going to keep working because we have an obligation to the world.” At today’s UNICEF Executive Board meeting, the two organizations agreed to continue working together until polio is eradicated. Other joint projects are slated for future discussion. Please Continue to Create Awareness & Take Action by Encouraging The Family of Rotary To Give Needed Personal Increased Donations to OUR ROTARY FOUNDATION Your Amigo in Mexico City, Frank Devlyn For more information on Our Rotary Foundation click on to http://www.rotary.org/foundation/index.html |
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I wish all of
you could have been present at the meeting of the UNICEF Executive Board
where there were representatives from every region and most key
countries in the world. UNICEF Executive Director Ann
M. Veneman gave the opening statement where she gave her gratitude and
recognition for all Rotary International has been able to do in our
Partnership to combat, control in our goal of eradicating Polio. Yes, my
family & friends of Rotary, I wish you could have heard the different
delegations from all areas of the world ask to speak and give gratitude
and recognition to Rotary International after I gave my presentation.
UNICEF worldwide does recognize our work. It was an honor to represent
Rotary at this important reunion and be able to show these top
representatives from UNICEF the value of the Added Credibility offered
by a Rotary International that helps to Create Awareness for Our World
To Take Action.