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TRUSTEE CHAIR’S MESSAGE
Our giving adds up

As an accountant, I look at the world through has been one of the most ambitious humanitarian
the lens of inputs and outputs. We can plan projects ever undertaken by a nongovernmental
with precision today for success tomorrow. My body. That success story alone shows the
profession also taught me that numbers Ñ those significance and widespread impact of Rotary and
inputs and outputs Ñ can sometimes tell great its Foundation.
stories. Perhaps what is even more remarkable is that
One of those stories is The Rotary Foundation: polio eradication is but one part of the Foundation's
What it has given the world, starting from a modest efforts.
input of $26.50, is nothing short of remarkable. Today, the Foundation has grown into a
In 1918, that amount Ñ the surplus from multimillion-dollar charity. Our robust funding
that year's Rotary Convention in Kansas City, model allows districts the flexibility to choose
Missouri Ñ was applied, at the sugestion of 1916- which Rotary aspects they would like to support
17 Rotary President Arch Klumph, to a fund with Ñ polio eradication, scholarships, district grants,
the purpose of doing good in the world. The fund global grants, and more. Today's Foundation
grew modestly until 1947, when Rotary founder impacts the world through disaster relief, disease
Paul Harris died and donations poured in as a prevention, peace education, and other areas.
tribute to him. That year, the Foundation supported Everyone in Rotary is part of this great
scholarships for 18 students Ñ the first indication legacy; it is our responsibility to keep it going. This
of the greatness to come. year, the trustees have set the goal of raising $430
Later the Foundation expanded, providing million. I know the expectations are high. But I also
programs, such as Group Study Exchange, and know just how much our members can achieve.
humanitarian grants, which impacted the lives of To get there, we will work together as we
members and communities around the world. In always do, with each club and individual giving
1979, a major grant helped immunize 6.3 million what they can. In this way, we will ensure that we
children in the Philippines against polio, which led meet our ambitious but achievable goal and move
to the establishment of PolioPlus in 1985. our Foundation forward.
Rotary's work with polio eradication Ñ
helping reduce wild polio from an estimated 1,000 IAN H.S. RISELEY
cases daily in 1988 to just six total cases in 2021 Ñ Foundation trustee chair

Illustration by Viktor Miller Gausa
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