About 535 incoming Rotary District Governors were stunned by the surprise appearance of Bill Gates, Jr. Called upon to address the International Assembly of District Governor Elects (DGEs) for the year 2009-'10, Mr. Gates related his personal connection with the polio virus - his wife's aunt contracted polio many years ago. Bill himself said that his birth was 3 years after the last large outbreak in the USA.
Melinda Gates is the Co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Bill Gates was introduced to the Assembly as the Co-Chair of the Gates Foundation and then humbly took the stage to thunderous applause of an audience of about 1,200 governors, wives, staff and press.
About 30 minutes into his address, he let the other shoe drop: he had decided to award an additional US$255 million to Rotary's Polio Plus campaign with the agreement that Rotary International raise an additional US$100 million.
The audience was very moved and excited! Tears were evident amongst many of the assembled Governors. This second challenge gift will result in The Rotary Foundation neding to match an additional US$100 million against the US$255 million grant. To date, The Rotary Foundation has raised in excess of US$70 million against the original Gates challenge of US$100 million.
Both matching grants must be met not later than June 30, 2013!
In all Rotary International will raise US$200 million and the Gates Foundation will donate US$355 million.
Posted from San Diego,
Jim Berg, Past District Governor 2003-04
San Antonio, Texas
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