District 6270 Raises $149,111 for PolioPlus – 382% of Goal Achieved!

End Polio Now Polio Plus World Polio Day Oct 24th
July 17, 2025 | Southeastern Wisconsin
— Cindy Petted, based on Rob Bassett's 7/16 email to members in District 6270.
 
The numbers are in, and District 6270 Rotarians have blown past expectations — raising an astounding $149,111 for PolioPlus during the 2024-25 Rotary year. That’s 382% over our original fundraising goal, making it the second-highest total raised in the last 20 years by the district in support of Rotary International’s mission to end polio worldwide.

At the forefront once again: the Elkhorn Rotary Club, winners of both halves of this year’s PolioPlus Challenge. With consistent and creative fundraising, their club led by example, proving that determination, teamwork, and a little friendly competition go a long way. The coveted Busted Crutch Award remains proudly displayed at the Elkhorn Library and will be formally awarded in a more permanent form later this summer at an upcoming Rotary meeting.

"This is what People of Action do," said District PolioPlus Chair, Rob Bassett (Rotary Club of Mitchell Field (Milwaukee)). "Every dollar raised brings us closer to a world free of polio, and the impact of District 6270’s generosity this year cannot be overstated."

Why It Matters

With this districtwide effort, nearly 150,000 children will be protected from polio — a direct result of your generosity. Even more exciting, global contributions to PolioPlus reached the $50 million benchmark, unlocking the $100 million match from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. That’s $150 million going toward Rotary’s #1 humanitarian priority: eradicating polio for good.

To help earn the Gates Foundation match, Rotary International encourages each

club to raise $1,500 per club or $50 per member annually. While not every club may meet that goal every year, many in District 6270 exceeded it—some by a wide margin—helping lift the entire district to success.

Top-Performing Clubs

Here are the results, in order, of the clubs that met or exceeded these key PolioPlus targets:  Click here to see the different lists.

These strong showings demonstrate the spirit of collaboration and commitment that defines Rotary. When we work together, the results are powerful—and measurable.

“We are humbled and energized by the response from our clubs,” said District Governor [Insert Name]. “This is legacy work. Our Rotarians are helping write the final chapter in polio’s history.”

Thank You to Everyone Who Contributed

Whether you raised funds, donated personally, or supported your club’s efforts behind the scenes, your contribution mattered. Your energy and dedication made the PolioPlus Challenge a huge success. We had a great year—and we can’t wait to see what we’ll accomplish next.

What’s Next

Polio still exists in two countries. As long as the virus exists anywhere, children everywhere remain at risk. Let’s keep up the momentum as we head into a new Rotary year.

How You Can Help

Together, we are this close to ending polio. Let’s finish the fight.