India's Giving to Foundation Rises, Yet polio threat remains...

From large-scale community development projects to polio eradication, Indian Rotarians, through their support for The Rotary Foundation, are improving people's lives on a broad front. "It's thrilling to see how our Rotary clubs, in partnership with the Foundation, are building a new India," says Past District Governor Krishnan Chari. "We have seen a dramatic rise in contributions to the Foundation from the Rotarians in India." In the past three years, India has moved from ninth to fourth in per country total giving to the Foundation worldwide. L. to R., Harshad R. and Naina Mehta; Rajashree Birla; Lakshmi and Usha Mittal In 2004, Harshad R. Mehta, of the Rotary Club of Bombay Metropolitan, and his wife, Naina, became charter members of the Arch C. Klumph Society. Named after the founder of The Rotary Foundation, the society honors Major Donors who contribute US$250,000 or more. In 2006, the Mehtas made a $1 million gift to the Foundation, the first donors from their country to surpass that milestone of support. In December, they committed to giving $2 million over the next three years to Rotary's US$100 Million Challenge for polio eradication. Harshad Mehta is chair of the United Arab Emirates operations of Rosy Blue, a family-owned international jewelry business. He believes strongly in giving back locally and in the global community. Of the push to end polio, he says, "We must further strengthen our resolve, as we are so close to the ultimate goal." Fellow Indian Rajashree Birla has contributed $300,000 to endow an Ambassadorial Scholarship and support the Annual Programs Fund. During her April induction into the Klumph Society at RI headquarters in Evanston, she made a surprise announcement of an additional $1 million commitment to Rotary's challenge. Birla's late husband, Aditya Birla, led his family's business to become one of India's largest. Today, the couple's son, Kumar Mangalam Birla, heads the Aditya Birla Group (ABG), a Fortune 500 company with 40 plants employing 100,000 workers in 20 countries. Integral to the group's philosophy is accountability to shareholders, employees, and the local community. An honorary member of the Mumbai and Mulund Rotary clubs, Birla feels a strong kinship with Rotary and its commitment to community service. "Rotarians symbolize a culture of giving and caring which is strikingly close to our group's philosophy," Birla says. In May, Birla arranged a brief meeting on polio eradication with Usha Mittal, wife of Lakshmi Mittal, the prominent businessman who leads ArcelorMittal, the world's largest steel maker. At Birla's encouragement, Mrs. Mittal generously responded with a $1 million contribution to the challenge. "It was remarkable to see the respect that Mrs. Birla received and amazing to have the time, attention, and interest that Mrs. Mittal expressed toward [Foundation PolioPlus Division manager] Carol Pandak's and my presentation on Rotary's polio eradication program," says Past RI President Rajendra Saboo. "What makes the contribution very significant is not only the generous monetary contribution she committed spontaneously, but her desire to participate in polio immunization camps in India." Decades ago, polio outbreaks were a constant threat around the world. After the introduction of polio vaccines by Jonas Salk and Albert Sabin and a steadfast immunization effort, these outbreaks became part of history in most of the world. Major gains have been made in the global fight against polio: * In the 1980s, 1,000 children were infected by the disease every day in 125 countries. * Today, polio cases have declined by 99 percent, with fewer than two thousand cases reported in 2006. * Two billion children have been immunized, five million have been spared disability, and over 250,000 deaths from polio have been prevented. Polio eradication is within our grasp. But if we don’t eradicate the disease now, the risk of crippling and deadly polio outbreaks will continue to threaten the world’s children. Many still live under the threat of polio, which is why Rotary and its global partners are committed to reaching every child with the vaccine and ending this disease worldwide. A crippling and potentially fatal infectious disease, polio (poliomyelitis) still strikes children mainly under the age of five in countries in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East [namely in northern India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Nigeria]. After 20 years of hard work, Rotary and its partners [WHO, the CDC, & UNICEF] are on the brink of eradicating this tenacious disease, but a strong push is needed now to root it out once and for all. It is a window of opportunity of historic proportions. The Global Polio Eradication Initiative is spearheaded by national governments. As long as polio threatens even one child anywhere in the world, children everywhere remain at risk. The stakes are that high. By donating now, you can help Rotary achieve a polio-free world. Your contribution will help Rotary match a $100 million challenge grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Share your ideas on India's TRF Giving & The Remaining Risks, in approximately 100 words, and earn a Make-up To top Website Copyright © 2003-08 Rotary eClub D7150 NY1 Design & Maintenance of this site by TechnoTouch e-Strategists