Polio Plus - Rotary's Finest Hour

Rotarians knew that raising $120 million for Polio 2005 would not be easy, yet they did not have a sense of urgency since 2005 was 20 years away. Dr. Albert Sabin, who developed the vaccine, urged Rotarians to accelerate the plan.

Inspired by Dr. Sabin, the RI Board took a bold step. They set a 3 year plan in place to meet their goal of raising the $120 million. A world-wide Rotary fundraising campaign began.

 

Three years later, at the RI convention of 1988, there was a roll call of the 44 national committees. There was tension in the room as members hoped the $120 million was attained.  When the reports were finished, the total raised was $247 million – twice the goal they wanted.

 

RI President, Charles Keller, declared that this was “Rotary’s finest hour.”