ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — The Rockford Rotary Club is raising awareness and funds to end Polio worldwide.
The club is partnering with the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois for the initiative. This was a strategic move that allows people who are not members of Rotary to donate.
Rockford Rotary Club has been battling Polio since 1988. In that time, members have donated over $182,000.
Rotaries across the Stateline have raised over $2 million. The initiative comes at a time when Polio cases are on the rise.
“Unfortunately, this year we’ve backslid a little bit. Last year, in 2023, only two countries had cases of the wild polio virus,” said Rockford Rotary member Bob Presman. “Pakistan and Afghanistan. In each country, there were only six cases. Well, this year it’s increased to 19 and 21 in each country, and we’ve had a polio outbreak in Gaza.”
If anyone would like to donate, checks can be sent to the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois along with “Rockford Polio plus” in the memo line.