Rotary clubs throughout Burbank came together on Saturday, October 24, to mark World Polio Day and renew their commitment to one of Rotary International’s longest-running and most significant humanitarian efforts: eradicating polio worldwide.
For decades, Rotary members worldwide have worked tirelessly to protect children from this devastating, vaccine-preventable disease. Since 1979, Rotary clubs have raised funds and supported immunization efforts to help bring polio to the brink of eradication. Today, the world is more than 99.9% of the way toward eliminating polio, with wild poliovirus cases remaining primarily in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Rotary’s partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has helped amplify this impact. Through the partnership, the Gates Foundation matches every dollar Rotary raises for polio eradication two-to-one, tripling the impact of Rotary’s fundraising efforts.
In recognition of World Polio Day, Rotarians from across the Burbank community gathered on the steps of Burbank City Hall for a special ceremony. The gathering included the presentation of an official proclamation recognizing World Polio Day and Rotary’s ongoing commitment to ending polio. In a powerful visual show of support, the Mayor and City Council members also arranged for City Hall to be illuminated in red, bringing attention to the worldwide effort to eradicate the disease.
The event served as a reminder that while tremendous progress has been made, the fight is not over. Until polio is eliminated everywhere, children everywhere remain at risk.
“Rotary has been working toward a polio-free world for generations. We are closer than ever, but we cannot afford to stop now. Every dollar raised, every vaccine delivered, and every community that joins this effort brings us one step closer to making history,” said Albert Hernandez, Past President and Governor of our Burbank Club
The Burbank Rotary clubs are proud to stand together with Rotary members around the world, local government leaders, and global partners in pursuit of a future where no child ever has to suffer from polio.
For more information about Rotary’s End Polio Now campaign or to support the effort, visit BurbankNoonRotary.org
