The main objective of Rotary is service — in the community,
in the workplace, and throughout the world. Rotarians develop community service projects that address many of today's
most critical issues, such as children at risk, poverty and hunger,
the environment, illiteracy, and violence. They also support programs for youth, educational opportunities and
International exchanges for students, t
eachers, and other professionals,
and vocational and career development. The Rotary motto is Service Above Self. Although Rotary clubs develop autonomous service programs,
all Rotarians worldwide are united in a campaign for the global
eradication of polio Originally proposed to eradicate polio from
the world by the year 2000. Due to the larger than expected
scope of the program and the addition of immunizations to
eliminate childhood diseases under the sponsorship of the
United Nations, the program has still not met the goal of total
eradication of polio, although only the four countries of Pakistan,
Afghanistan, India and Nigeria remain with reported cases of polio. Rotarians have contributed over 600 million dollars and thousands
of man hours by Rotarians to administer the immunizations and monitor
the program and Rotary is in the process of a campaign to match a
grant of $200 million from The Bill and Melinda Gates foundation
and plans are in place for the final steps to finally complete
the elimination of polio from the world. The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International is a not-for-profit
corporation that promotes World understanding through international
humanitarian service programs and educational and cultural exchanges. It is supported solely by voluntary contributions from Rotarians and
others who share its vision of a better world. Since 1947, the Foundation has awarded more than US$1.1 billion in
humanitarian and educational grants, which are initiated and administered
by local Rotary clubs and districts.
