Dear Friends and Family, 

I am a member of the Rotary Club of _________, which is part of Rotary
International, one of the largest service clubs in the world. Since
1986, we have had the grand ambition of ending polio in the world.
Rotary has done an amazing job of this, working with nations, the
World Health Organization, UNICEF and others to save the lives of
children and protect them from this crippling disease. Polio exists
now in only four countries: India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria. 

Our efforts earned us the attention of Bill Gates, the founder of
Microsoft. He was so impressed with our ability to organize National
Inoculation Days and immunize children that he went along and fed
drops of this life-saving vaccine into the mouths of children in
Africa. And then he gave Rotary $100 million to finish the job. And
then he gave us another $255 million, all from the Bill and Melinda
Gates Foundation. 

In exchange, Bill Gates asked that Rotary provide a match of $200
million, to bring the total for a renewed End Polio Now effort to $555
million. We think we can get the job done with that level of funding.
It will not be easy, given war in Afghanistan, the sheer size of
India, and the political stability issues of Nigeria and Pakistan. But
we believe we can do it. 

I am hoping you will help me raise my small share of that very large
fund-raising number for Rotary. Rotary is organized into Districts
around the world, and my District ______ is aiming to raise _______. I
am hoping my friends' contributions will come in by Oct. 24, which is
Polio Awareness Day worldwide. Could you please contribute just _____?
Of course, if you are able, more would be appreciated.

You can give by going to the website www.endpolio.com. Select the
Rotary Club of _______ (so my club gets credit for your support) and
enter your contribution using our DONATE button. Then please let me
know you have helped so I can give a big thank-you. You will be a part
of an extraordinary effort. 

Also on that website you can learn more about polio. The last
naturally occurring case of polio in the United States was reported in
1979, but some cases were imported as recently as 1993. Younger
Americans barely know what polio is. But in countries where medical
care is limited, the disease has devastating effects. I commend to you
Bill Gates' speech in which he promised Rotary that additional $255
million. He really gets it. You'll find a video on the start page of
www.endpolio.com. 

Thank you so much for hearing my request and, if able, helping Rotary
change the world. 

Best regards,