Why Become a Paul Harris Fellow or Multiple Paul Harris Fellow, Now.

In 1979, when James L. Bomar Jr., then Rotary International President, put the first drops of vaccine into a child’s mouth in the barrio of Guadalupe Viejo here in Makati, he ceremonially launched the Philippine poliomyelitis immunization effort. Bomar joined Enrique M. Garcia, the country’s minister of health, in signing the contract committing Rotary International and the government of the Philippines to a joint five-year effort to immunize the children of the Philippines against polio at a cost of about $760,000 with a Rotary Foundation Health, Hunger and Humanity grant. Six million children were eventually immunized and the Philippines became Polio free.

Polio eradication became Rotary’s priority project in the early 1980’s. With donations like yours and mine, we’ve wiped out 99.9 percent of all polio cases world-wide, starting right here. Our gifts make a difference, right here.

The Rotary Foundation transforms our gifts into service projects that change lives both close to home and around the world. During the past 100 years, the Foundation has spent $3 billion on life-changing, sustainable projects. Our donations make a difference to those who need our help most. Ninety-one percent of donations go directly to supporting our service projects around the world. And the Philippines gets back FAR more in TRF funds than we contribute.

Last Rotary year, we were inspired under the outstanding leadership of IPP Jimmie Policarpio to add the second highest number of Paul Harris Fellows in our history, in his quest for our club to become a 100% Paul Harris Fellow Club by or in our Centennial. Now that we are kicking off our Centennial celebrations, let us join “Inspiring” Centennial President Susing Pineda to assure that we reach this milestone.

Many people are surprised that the oldest club in Asia, with all of its high-profile members, has never achieved that target. And we SHOUD, not because of its prestige, but because we believe in the world’s greatest charity, run by us, for OUR projects here and around the world.

TODAY is the best day to make your commitment to become a Paul Harris Fellow or to become a multiple PHF. Why today? Because if you commit today, you can be recognized at our District Turnover in only a few days on the 14th at the Manila Hotel! As long as your $1,000 gift is deposited before the November TRF dinner, you will also be treated to dinner at our annual recognition night! Just inform our club Foundation Chair, Director Albert Alday, that you commit to pay before November. That’s it! That’s all you need to do today!

When you make a Rotary Foundation gift, either to the “Annual Fund,” to PolioPlus, or to a Global Grant, you also accrue “Foundation Recognition Points.” Donors receive one recognition point for every U.S. dollar contributed to these funds. Donors can transfer Foundation recognition points to others to help them qualify as a Paul Harris Fellow or Multiple Paul Harris Fellow. As an example, you could give perhaps 500 points to a friend and they donate $500 and become a PHF or Multiple Fellow. But remember, TRF Recognition points are not cash donations and do not qualify as contributions towards “Major Donor” status. The TRF exchange rate for July is P53.

If you would like to become a PHF or advance to higher level multiple PHF, please contribute NOW. If you want assistance from points contributed by another member, just inform Director Albert, me or our club secretariat. We can find those who will happily make (usually) donations of Recognition Points to you. You cannot use your own points to advance yourself, but you can let us know if you are willing to donate them to others. Their only value is to help others!

Here is a summary of the recognition levels for Multiple PHF Fellows:

$1,000 to 1,999.99 – plain pin

$2,000 to 2,999.99 – one sapphire

$3,000 to 3,999.999 – two sapphires

$4,000 to 4,999.99 – three sapphires

$5,000 to 5,999.99 – four sapphires

$6,000 to 6,999.99 – five sapphires

$7,000 to 7,999.99 – one ruby

$8,000 to 8,999 – two rubies

$9,000 to 9,999 – three rubies

Cash and points can take you all the way there. However, to become a major donor, your personal cash contributions must be USD $10,000 or more.

Please consider making a gift to the Rotary Foundation NOW. Become a PHF or Multiple PHF. Thank you.