TRF and its coin-operated magic wands
In Rotary we all have access to magic wands that enable us to tackle various challenges in our communities. But there is just one problem — these magic wands are coin operated. None of these will work unless you put the time, effort and resources now and for the future,” said TRF Trustee Chair Mark Maloney. Addressing Rotarians of RID 3234 in Chennai, he urged them to extend their generosity to support The Rotary Foundation. “With these coin-operated magic wands, you can eradicate polio, foster peace in a world grappling with unrest, provide sustainable solutions for clean water and sanitation, invest in teachers to promote learning, and help rehabilitate those affected by natural disasters.”
He recalled participating in a medical mission in Zimbabwe in March 2020. “PRIP Rajendra Saboo was leading a team of 20 Indian doctors who performed 3,200 medical procedures in just one week. They worked tirelessly, conducting cataract surgeries, dental procedures, and removing tumours without expecting any form of remuneration. They even trained local doctors so that they could continue to change lives. This experience left a remarkable impression on Gay and I. We could feel the impact of our Foundation there,” he said.
Referring to TRF’s goal to build an Endowment Fund of $2.025 billion by 2025, he said, “When this goal was announced in 2017, 2025 seemed to be a long time away. But the target year is now upon us. As a team let’s all work together to achieve this goal.” He called on each Rotarian to lead by example and contribute generously. “Take ownership of the magic wand by donating $100 to the Polio Fund and $1,000 to the Annual Fund. Every dollar matters — it could provide life-saving polio drops to a child, reduce maternal and child mortality, immunise women against cervical cancer and empower our people of action so that they can create lasting change around the world,” he said.
Earlier TRF trustee Bharat Pandya acknowledged the generosity of Rotary donors. “To every single one of you who has given to the Foundation this year, and in years past — on behalf of the trustees, Rotarians and the countless beneficiaries you’ve impacted — thank you for your unwavering support,” he said. He highlighted the sacrifices of over 100 health workers killed in Pakistan over the last decade — many of them women — simply because they went door-to-door to immunise children against polio. “We owe it to those who have lost their lives and those who continue to risk theirs — to support polio prevention as a tribute to their sacrifice.”
To every single one of you who has given to the Foundation this year, and in years past, thank you for your unwavering support.
– Bharat Pandya, TRF Trustee
Pandya shared details about TRF’s latest initiative, the Programs of Scale, which awards $2 million grant over a 3–5 year period to an impactful community programme. The first grant was awarded to the ‘Malaria-free Zambia’ programme. “Its success in reducing malaria-related deaths caught the attention of the Gates Foundation and World Vision, leading to an additional $20 million contribution, with Rotary matching it with $10 million.” This $30 million initiative, known as the ‘Rotary Healthy Communities Challenge’, will address child mortality caused by malaria, diarrhoeal diseases and pneumonia in four countries — Zambia, Nigeria, Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of Congo. “Can you imagine the impact this funding will have over the next three years, addressing some of the top killers in that part of Africa? This is why we need the Foundation,” he said.
RID 3234 DG N S Saravanan, thanking the AKS members and major donors, announced that the district has garnered a commitment of $2 million contribution to TRF. He urged every Rotarian, rather than the “select few who make repeated contribution,” to step up and contribute.
DGE Vinod Saraogi thanked TRF for approving a GG of $54,000 which will help the district treat 100 children with congenital heart disorder from Uganda. The medical project is being executed in partnership with RC Kampala Ssese Islands, Healthy Hearts Foundation, the Uganda Hospital and the Indian Association in Africa. The surgeries are being performed at the Kamakshi Hospital and the Namar Heart Hospital in Chennai. Maloney felicitated PDG S Krishnaswami with the ‘Regional Service Award for a Polio-free World’.
