President-Nominee of Rotary International Joins Local Rotarians To Celebrate Charitable Foundation's Centennial
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL - Samuel Frobisher Owori, the president-nominee of Rotary International - the global humanitarian service organization - urged his fellow Rotarians to promote its values of service and fairness in the face of global suffering and strife.
"Our world is turned upside, and Rotarians, perhaps unwittingly, have committed themselves and are better placed to make a difference and turn our world right side up," said Owori, speaking at the Rolling Green Country Club in Arlington Heights, IL on Sunday.
He made his remarks at a fund-raising dinner sponsored by Rotary District 6440, which covers northeastern Illinois, in celebration of the centennial of the Rotary Foundation. To mark the anniversary, Rotary aims to raise $300 million by July 2017 for its campaign to eradicate polio and for service in communities around the world.
The Rotary Foundation, Owori noted, grew from humble beginnings in 1917 with $26.50. "Today, the Rotary Foundation is a billion-dollar foundation that has impacted communities around the world."
"As [cultural anthropologist] Margaret Mead once said, and I paraphrase, 'never doubt that a small group of thoughtful citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has,'" noted Owori, who will be the first Ugandan to lead Rotary International when he begins his term on July 1, 2018.
Though soft-spoken and unassuming, Owori candidly called out "a litany of lamentations." He said: "Yes, we live in a world riddled with violence and peace cannot be take for granted; where millions are have no shelter over their head; where millions are dying of starvation; where millions have no access to clean water; where mothers and children die unnecessarily at childbirth; where literary and unemployment have reached untenable proportions; where access to medical treatment and administration are a preserve of the few, well-connected people."
Then, he asked, "It is not fortuitous that we have an organization like Rotary with 1.2 million human beings who make a difference and with a foundation to do good in the world?"
Fighting for the eradication of polio is a leading initiative of the Foundation. Rotary has contributed more than $1.6 billion and countless volunteer hours to immunize more than 2.5 billion children in 122 countries. Since Rotary launched its immunization program in 1985 and began working with global health partners, the incidence of paralyzing disease has plummeted by more than 99.9 percent, from about 350,000 cases a year to 26 confirmed to date in 2016.
As president, Owori will oversee PolioPlus and work with Rotary's partners in the eradication initiative, including the World Health Organization, UNICEF, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
About Rotary District 6440
Rotary District 6440, which includes more 70 Rotary clubs and more than 2,300 Rotarians, has played a strong supportive role in the Rotary both through financial support of the Rotary Foundation and hands-on efforts in its initiatives to strengthen communities.
Local Rotarians have contributed their time, energy and passion to carry out sustainable projects in the areas of peace and conflict resolution, disease prevention and treatment, water and sanitation, basic education and literacy, and economic and community development. Northeastern Illinois Rotarians also have joined forces with Rotary's 1.2 million members from more than 200 countries and geographical areas, in working toward the eradication of polio.
Visit www.Rotary6440.org for more information on Rotary District 6440. It is known as the "Home District" because it includes the Evanston, IL headquarters of Rotary International.