Message from the Chair: Thank you for a successful year

May 2008

Dear family of Rotary,

This is my last message as chair of The Rotary Foundation. Throughout this year, I rediscovered, as all of my predecessors have, the tremendous generosity of Rotarians and their efforts on behalf of our Foundation, in both its educational and humanitarian programs.

Donations to all the funds have increased, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation challenge grant is generating enormous excitement. I am confident that if this momentum continues, we will meet, and even exceed, all of our fundraising goals for this year.

Our first goal for this Rotary year states: “Polio eradication is realistic.” Since Rotary launched its polio eradication initiative in 1985, the infection rate has dropped by 99 percent. Only four polio-endemic countries remain. Who says we cannot eradicate polio? We Rotarians must continue to be the conscience of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative until no child is ever again paralyzed for life by the poliovirus. It is our promise to the children, and as we all know, Rotarians keep their promises. We will meet Rotary’s US$100 Million Challenge.

The Rotary Foundation has built a magnificent record over its 91 years and is now recognized around the globe as one of the world’s most respected private foundations. It has been an honor to serve as its chair. Thank you for the good you have done, for the good you are doing, but most important, for the good you will do.

Robert S. Scott
Trustee Chair,
The Rotary Foundation, 2007-08