Marblehead Club recently had Philip Wilson speak at their club, and his message was truly powerful. As a polio survivor, Philip reminds us why our efforts to raise funds for PolioPlus are still so important. His story brings home the reality that polio is not just a chapter in history—it continues to affect lives today.
I believe it would be incredibly valuable for all of the district clubs to hear from him. His presentation offers both inspiration and a renewed sense of urgency for the work Rotary continues to do.Philip is also collaborating with Carlos Robledo, another Rotarian/polio survivor, to raise awareness throughout the district. Together, they bring a compelling and personal perspective to Rotary’s commitment to ending polio once and for all.
A recent story from the Gates Foundation. The story of polio—and for us, the story of this past year—is a story of people working together to eradicate a preventable disease, sharing what they learn, and staying committed long after the headlines move on. That’s how eradication happens.
Last week, chair Bill Gates met with leaders from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI)—a decades-long partnership led by WHO, Rotary International, the U.S. CDC, UNICEF, Gavi, Gates Foundation, and countries around the world. Together, the GPEI is working to deliver a world where no child anywhere is ever paralyzed by any form of poliovirus again. It’s one of the largest public health collaborations in history, and one we are proud to continue supporting with a pledge of $1.9 billion in support of critical efforts to end all forms of polio globally.