Rotarians are putting their marketing, musical, and athletic talents to work to raise funds for Rotary’s US$200 Million Challenge.  Here are a few examples from clubs in countries around the world.

SWITZERLAND:  Rotarians in over 200 Swiss cities and villages mobilized on 13 September, National Day Against Child Paralysis, to sell packets of sunflower seeds for US$0.75 each in support of Rotary’s challenge.  Endorsed by local political leaders and health officials, the effort raised more than $669,000 according to initial reports.  Overall, organizers expected to raise one million Swiss francs or over US$900,000, says Andreas Kleeb, of the Rotary Club of Zug-Zugersee.  “We are sure we will reach it over the next few months.”

CANADA: Hans Wiesner, of the Rotary Club of Red Deer East, Albert, trekked the Via de la Plata in Spain in the Walk to Beat Polio.  All proceeds from his 626-mile (1007 kilometer) journey along the famous 2,000 year-old pilgrimage trail, which began on 6 October and ended on 9 November, went to Rotary’s challenge.  At press time, he had raised US$40,410.00

USA: The Rotary Club of Cupertino, California, held a jazz fusion concert featuring Indian musicians who played sitar, flute, saxophone, guitar and tabla (drums).  More that 1,600 people attended, contributing approximately US$25,000 for Rotary’s challenge.  “Since the [San Francisco] Bay Area has a large population of people from India (one of four remaining polio-endemic countries), we thought that we should collectively do our part to wipe this terrible disease off the face of the earth,” says Cupertino Rotarian Mahesh Nihalani.

-RotaryWorld, April 2009