Letter: Libby Rotary Club appreciates generosity

Dear Editor:

In 1985, Rotary International made a commitment along with the United Nations, the World Health Organization, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and numerous individual nations throughout the world, to become a major contributor to the combined effort to eradicate the poliovirus.

To date, Rotarians have contributed nearly $700 million to this effort, have seen the number of endemic nations reduced from over 120 to four, and the number of new cases drop from 1,000 per day to fewer than 2,000 per year.

In 2008, the Gates Foundation gave Rotary $100 million in the form of a matching grant as we begin the final push to eliminate this deadly, crippling disease. Toward this effort, the Libby Rotary Club has a goal of $1,600 per year for the next three years.

We began our fund-raising efforts at Rosauer’s on Nov. 7-8, and thanks to the generosity of Libby raised, raised more than $920. Libby Senior High School also became involved in the project and contributed an additional $271.

The Libby Rotary Club wishes to thank all who generously contributed to this effort, with special thanks to Rosauer’s Food and Drug, and the staff and students at Libby High School.

Paul Lammers, Libby Rotary Club president