Rotary International has done a lot. We have a lot to do. And we are all about doing it!
Four Decades of Polio Vaccinations
Not so long ago, most Americans knew someone who suffered lifelong harm from polio. In 1952, a scientist named Jonas Salk, building on efforts by many other researchers, developed the first effective vaccination against polio. In an extraordinary example of how private citizens can achieve enormous success when working together, Rotary Clubs across the planet have invested $2.4 billion dollars to immunize more than 2.5 billion children in 122 countries. The result is a massive 99% eradication of polio.
Disaster Relief
In 2021, a tornado savaged a small Alabama town called Fultondale. Hundreds of homes were destroyed, and many sustained serious injuries. Sonja Givens-Thomas, a member of the El Cerrito Rotary Club and native of Fultondale, brought the disaster into focus. El Cerrito Rotary, along with dozens of Rotary Clubs across America, chipped in to provide food, shelter and to help clean up and rebuild.
From hurricanes and floods to earthquakes and wars, Rotarians worldwide stand ready to leverage the strength of many individuals into a great, collective outreach when catastrophe strikes.