On September 29, 1979, in Makati, Philippines, Rotarians and the country’s Ministry of Health launched an ambitious campaign to immunize children against polio. Rotary International President James L. Bomar Jr. placed the first drops of oral vaccine into a child’s mouth, officially beginning what would become Rotary’s signature global health initiative.

That early project immunized six million children and inspired Rotary to make polio eradication a top priority. In 1985, Rotary launched PolioPlus and later became a founding member of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. The impact has been profound: cases have dropped by 99 percent, and the disease remains endemic in only three countries: Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Pakistan. More than 2.5 billion children have since been protected from the crippling virus.

Locally, Pekin Rotary embraced the challenge in 1987 under Club President Gary Gillis. With a daunting goal of $8,000, members sought community support. Gillis recalls receiving a call from fellow Rotarian Bob Metzler, an attorney who connected philanthropic clients to charitable causes. One of his clients stepped forward to help, giving the club’s effort new momentum.

For later generations of members, the campaign continued to inspire. Leonard Ealey, who joined Pekin Rotary in 2008, recalls learning about PolioPlus at a leadership training in 2011. At the time, cases had fallen from 350,000 annually in 125 countries to just 650 worldwide. Rotary, partnering with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, launched the public awareness campaign “This Close” to rally final efforts toward eradication.

In 2015, Pekin Rotarians set out to raise $2,500 for the End Polio Now campaign. They exceeded expectations, collecting $3,600. With the Gates Foundation’s two-to-one match, Pekin’s contribution tripled to $10,800. Since then, Pekin Rotarians and the Gates Foundation together have raised $13,098 toward eradicating polio worldwide.

“Being a part of PolioPlus has shown me that Rotary is more than just serving our local community,” said Ealey. “It’s about coming together across borders to build a better, lasting future.”

From the Philippines in 1979 to fundraisers in Pekin decades later, Rotary’s commitment has never wavered. What began with a few drops of vaccine has grown into one of the greatest public health campaigns in history, proving that local clubs like Pekin Rotary can help change the world.

The Pekin Rotary Club will host a “Pints for Polio” social event at Whiskey Taco on October 23, 2025, from 5–7pm. For every pint sold during that time, one dollar will be donated to Rotary’s global effort to eradicate polio.

If you are interested in joining the cause, donations can be mailed to Pekin Rotary, PO Box 694, Pekin, IL  61554. Learn more at www.PekinRotary.org

Together, we can ensure that no child, anywhere, will ever suffer from polio again.