10/24/2026
Today is World Polio Day, a time to reflect on a promise Rotary made to children four decades ago: a world free from this devastating disease.
When Rotary and our partners launched the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in 1988, polio paralyzed hundreds of thousands of children each year. Since then, Rotary members, donors, our partners, and health workers have helped reduce polio cases by more than 99.9%. This progress was made possible by people who chose to act.
People like you.
Through your support of The Rotary Foundation, vaccines have reached children in communities around the globe. Together, we’ve moved closer than ever to a world where no child has to experience the effects of polio.
But our work continues. Wild poliovirus remains endemic in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and until polio is eradicated everywhere, children everywhere remain at risk.
This World Polio Day, you can take action by:
Donating to our PolioPlus Fund
Starting a fundraiser on Raise for Rotary
Viewing and sharing Trustee Chair Jennifer Jones’ message about ending polio
Every contribution helps sustain our progress and supports the work still needed to reach every child. Thank you for uniting with us on World Polio Day to create a future where polio exists only in history books.
Together, we end polio.
