PolioPlus

Rotary's Promise: A World Without Polio

In 1985, Rotary made an audacious commitment: to eradicate polio from the face of the earth. At the time, the disease was paralyzing an estimated 350,000 children every year across 125 countries. Three years later, in 1988, Rotary became a founding partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative alongside the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — launching what would become the largest internationally coordinated public health effort in history.

Four decades later, that promise is nearly kept.

The Impact So Far

• 99.9% reduction in polio cases worldwide since 1988
• More than 2.5 billion children immunized against polio through Rotary and partner efforts
• More than $2.9 billion contributed by Rotary in PolioPlus grants
• Rotary's advocacy has helped drive over $11 billion in additional funding from governments worldwide
• Wild poliovirus remains endemic in just two countries: Afghanistan and Pakistan

Every dollar Rotarians give to PolioPlus is matched 2-to-1 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation — tripling the impact of every contribution.

Why It Still Matters

Polio hasn't been eradicated yet — and that means every child everywhere remains at risk until it is. Health experts warn that if eradication efforts stopped today, polio could once again paralyze as many as 200,000 children a year within just a decade. The finish line is close, but the last mile of any disease eradication effort is historically the hardest: reaching children in conflict zones, remote regions, and communities where vaccine misinformation runs deep.

The "Plus" in PolioPlus reflects something else, too — Rotary's commitment doesn't stop at the polio vaccine. Alongside immunization campaigns, Rotary volunteers have helped deliver clean water infrastructure, vitamin A supplementation, and other basic health services to vulnerable communities, creating lasting benefits well beyond polio alone.

How the Rotary Club of Islip Supports This Effort

As a club, we support PolioPlus through:

• Contributions to The Rotary Foundation's PolioPlus Fund
• Participation in World Polio Day (observed every October 24) to raise awareness in our community
• Fundraising events dedicated to the cause
• Advocacy — helping our community understand why this fight isn't over yet

How You Can Help

• Donate to the PolioPlus Fund through The Rotary Foundation — every gift is tripled through the Gates Foundation match
• Join the PolioPlus Society with a recurring annual gift and be recognized for your sustained commitment
• Spread the word — most people don't realize polio still threatens children today, or that Rotary has led the charge to end it
• Get involved with our club's World Polio Day activities and fundraisers

Want to learn more or get involved? Visit or contact us via the"Contact Us" section on our website's landing page to find out about our club's current fundraising efforts and how you can join the fight to end polio for good.

Together, We Will End Polio.