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The Foundation is the world-wide Rotary movement's charitable fund. It supports and funds
international humanitarian, educational, and cultural exchange programs. It was created in 1917
as an endowment fund for Rotary "to do good in the world", and is supported solely by
voluntary contributions from Rotarians and friends of the Foundation. |
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Of its many major achievements, the most notable is "Polio Plus",
the project to eradicate polio world-wide. Rotary International is the spearheading
member of the Global Polio Eradication |
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initiative and is the largest private sector donor. It has contributed more than
$600 million to polio eradication activities in 122 countries. In addition, tens
of thousands of Rotarians have given their time and energy to help administer the
vaccines, in partnership with their national ministries of health, UNICEF, the World
Health Organization and with health providers at the grass-roots level in thousands of
communities. As well as donating in excess of $550 million, Rotary members have
influenced world leaders and charitable foundations (including the Bill & Melinda
Gates Foundation) to donate more than 1.5 billion
dollars. |
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Rotary Foundation is not just about billion-dollar mega-projects, however. The following
are just a few examples of its activities: |
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It funds exchange visits between groups of young professionals, to increase their business
and leadership skills and promote international understanding. |
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It awards scholarships to graduate students to enable them to
study in (and learn about) other countries. |
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It encourages individual Rotary Clubs to undertake international humanitarian work
by providing matching funding when 2 or more Clubs co-operate. |
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It provides immediate funding to world-wide medical and relief charities on behalf of
all Rotarians in times of major disasters such as the 2004 Tsunami disaster. |
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For further information about one of the world's great charitable foundations, please visit its website
by clicking its symbol above |
