PolioPlus Program:
In the early 1980s, with the advice and support of the late Dr. Albert Sabin, developer of the oral polio vaccine, Rotary International undertook the most ambitious program in its history-to immunize all of the world's children against polio. The "PolioPlus" program of the Rotary Foundation was launched in 1985, with the goal of raising $120 million in support funds. Within three years, however, $247 million had been given for this purpose by Rotarians worldwide.
At that time the Madison Rotary Club had about 70 members, who jointly contributed a total of $31,825 to the PolioPlus program over the next several years. According to information supplied by the Rotary Foundation, this contribution represented the equivalent of immunizing 254,600 children against polio, 890 of whom would have otherwise contracted the disease and been disabled, deformed, or (in 127 cases) killed.
End Polio Now website
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