Rotary Club Morimondo Abbey

iThe Morimondo Abbazia Rotary Club successfully concluded the project “End Polio Now – Matching Grant”, a major service initiative to support the eradication of polio worldwide. The club has mobilized for raise public awareness, raise funds and give a concrete contribution to one of the most important health battles of our time.

The project was based on a fundraising in the form of Matching Grants, an innovative formula that allows you to multiply the impact of every single donation: the donations collected were doubled thanks to the co-financing of the Club and private donors, and further tripled through the global partnership between Rotary International and the Bill. In total, every euro donated has generated a six times greater impact, contributing significantly to the cause.

As a sign of gratitude, the donors received a certificate of thanks, one celebratory pin and a tangible memory of their gesture of solidarity.

"We believe that our duty, as Rotary members, is to set an example. If at a global level we work to multiply the effectiveness of donations, it is essential that we, at a local level, also commit to offering something more to those who support us. Our campaign is not just an invitation to donate, but an opportunity to reflect on the enormous difference we can make, together."

"Rotary is not just an international organization: it is a community of people who act with passion and determination to change the future of the most vulnerable. This is what we want to communicate outside the Club." – Davide Carnevali, President RC Morimondo Abbazia

About 70% of the Club members actively participated, not only contributing with personal donations, but also promoting the project in the area. The campaign has collected over €18,000, intended entirely for End Polio Now global campaign. Thanks to the multiplier effect of the Matching Grant, the overall value of the impact was approximately 55.000 €, equivalent to approximately 100,000 doses of polio vaccine.

The idea was born from a personal episode: shortly before starting his mandate, President Davide Carnevali received a letter from the Lombardy Region with an invitation to vaccinate his daughter. A simple and routine gesture, which however made us reflect: what is normal for us, in other parts of the world is still today an obstacle, a challenge, a real risk for public health.

The launch of the project coincided with dramatic news: new cases of wild polio virus in the Gaza Strip, due to difficulties in distributing vaccines. This strengthened the belief that you can't let your guard down, and gave even more meaning to the initiative.

The financing was possible thanks to the joint contribution of: Donations from private citizens and local companies, Resources of the Rotary Club Morimondo Abbazia, The participation of the sister Rotary Club Mühldorf-Waldkraiburg and the precious support of District 2050, of which we sincerely thank.

One of the most significant aspects of the project was the involvement of the external community, called to actively participate in one of the most important programs of Rotary International. This synergy strengthened the sense of community and increased the visibility of the club and its mission in the area.