The Rotary Foundation

Rotary's corporate charity was formed in 1917 with the aim "to do good in the world". Over the years the charity has expanded and today it is the world's largest non-governmental charity dedicated to international peace and understanding, education and health. The annual donations from all clubs around the world in the Rotary Year 1st July 2013- 30th June 14 amounted to a record $116.6M*.

In 1979, Rotary began its journey to eradicate Polio from the world and we are nearly there! In 1985 there were 350,000 cases of polio per year, last year there were just a few hundred cases in just three countries - Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria.

This Rotary Club has made a contribution to the Foundation every year since it was formed in 1987.

As well as raising funds for polio eradication, we have participated in international understanding projects. Just a few years ago, we sponsored a young lady working in computer education in the community to travel on a Group Study Exchange visit to the Philippines.

* In 2013-14 the Rotary Foundation directed 92% of its funds to spending on programmes, 2% on administration and 6% on fund-raising. These figures far exceed the criteria set by independent charity-rating-services. Indeed in 2014, Americ's largest charity evaluator,Charity Navigator, awarded the Rotary Foundation a maximum four stars.