PDG Jack Blane truly was passionate about helping Rotarians understand the power of working through The Rotary Foundation to benefit those in need. When he passed away on February 19, 2018, he left behind a legacy of enormous financial support for TRF and many thousands of hours of work on behalf of PolioPlus.Jack’s efforts as a Rotarian on behalf of ridding the world of polio took him to over 25 countries to work with clubs, districts and governments. His first experience with this deadly disease had been as a youth at a Boy Scout camp where some friends became paralyzed from contracting polio and a few died. At that time 1,000 young people a day were falling victim to polio worldwide. In Rotary Year 2023-2024, there were just 12 cases of polio attributed to the wild virus worldwide, and only in Afghanistan and Pakistan. While the job is not done, we are truly “this close” in the “countdown to 0”.
Although Jack no longer is with us, his commitment to working through The Rotary Foundation is commemorated with this Jack Blane Challenge program to encourage club members throughout the district to become more supportive of TRF.
The challenge is simple. Any Rotarian who never has earned recognition as a Paul Harris Fellow can have a donation of $500.00 to The Rotary Foundation matched with 500 points from Jack to earn the first Paul Harris Fellow pin. If that Rotarian has made some prior contributions but has not yet reached the $1,000 level, then this new $500.00 plus Jack’s match will be the beginning of work towards the second level of PHF recognition. Contributions can be for support of Annual Fund SHARE or of PolioPlus.
Instructions
1. A donation of $500, either by an individual or combined with a club contribution, to either PolioPlus or Annual Fund-SHARE, must be remitted to The Rotary Foundation. (Rotary Foundation Points cannot be substituted.)
- If donating ONLINE (link here) via credit card, please forward the donation receipt to admin@rotary6440.org.
- You may also MAIL your donation to The Rotary Foundation, using this form. They accept both checks and credit cards. Email a copy of the completed form and, if applicable, the check to admin@rotary6440.org.
2. Complete sections 1 and 3 of this Paul Harris Fellow Recognition Transfer Request form, and email to admin@rotary6440.org.
3. The District Administrator will process the transfer of Jack's points. Once both the donation and the transfer are received by TRF, they will send the recognition materials to the address provided on the Transfer Request form.
The District has been gifted these points and once they are depleted, we may end the program.
If you have questions, contact District Foundation Chair PDG Lyle Staab at gov.lyle@rotary6440.org.
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