We have received news via our 2022-23 Rotary Foundation Trustee Chair, Past Rotary International President Ian Riseley, of the wonderful collective efforts of Rotarians worldwide in respect to the fundraising efforts that make such a difference to the work we do and to the lives of others. Foundation programs for years to come will be enhanced by the $427 million raised through gifts and commitments across 2022-23.
Our endeavours have been such that The Rotary Foundation (TRF) can grant $50 million from the Polio Plus Fund which will be matched 2-to-1 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
An incredible 1,098 global grants were awarded by TRF and a third 'Programs of Scale' was awarded to ‘United to End Cervical Cancer’ in Egypt.
Our work around world peace will also be enhanced by the selection of a new Rotary Peace Centre site at Bahçeşehir University in Istanbul.Although this provides us with a picture at the macro level, we should all be encouraged that it is the collective effort of our 1.2+ million Rotarians and friends that is the glue that brings all of this together. Let’s be proud of what we do in making a difference for others.
I also recently received contact from PRIP Ian Risely, to advise the Rotarians of District 9800 that his Presidential representative at our District Conference in Warrnambool in 2018, Brian Hall of Louisiana, has been elected as a director of Rotary International for 2025/27.
Ian told Brian that he owes this honour to the excellent Rotary backgrounding he received when he was in our district! There are those of you reading this who will know and remember Brian. We congratulate him on this honour and wish him well in his future Director role.