The Rotary Foundation

The Rotary Foundation conducts health, humanitarian and educational programs

enabling Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill and peace.

PolioPlus

Polio eradication is within our grasp. But if we don’t eradicate the disease now, the risk of crippling and deadly polio outbreaks will continue to threaten the world’s children.

Learn about the challenges to polio eradication and the current strategies that Rotary and its polio eradication partners are using.

You can help Rotary get the job done by contributing to Rotary’s PolioPlus program or volunteering and creating awareness of polio.

Did you know that more than 10 million children will be paralyzed in the next 40 years if the world fails to eradicate polio? Embark on a virtual tour of “Whatever Happened to Polio?” an exhibit of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History that chronicles the history of the disease and efforts to eradicate it. The exhibit is now on permanent display at the Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation.

Matching Grants

The Rotary Foundation will help fund projects conducted by Rotary clubs in different countries. The partnership between the clubs offers an environment for cultural, educational and technical advancement increasing goodwill and understanding beyond the benefit to the people served by the joint humanitarian project.

The Rotary Club of Austin-Oak Hill enjoys two outstanding and productive partner club relationships.

The Rotary Club of Matamoros Sur
Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico

The Rotary Club of Monterrey Profesional
Monterrey, Nuevo Laredo, Mexico

Group Study Exchange

The Rotary Foundation’s Group Study Exchange (GSE) program is a unique cultural and vocational exchange opportunity for businesspeople and professionals between the ages of 25 and 40 who are in the early stages of their careers. The program provides travel grants for teams to exchange visits in paired areas of different countries. For four to six weeks, team members experience the host country's culture and institutions, observe how their vocations are practiced abroad, develop personal and professional relationships, and exchange ideas.

In a typical four-week tour, applicants participate in five full days of vocational visits, 15 to 20 club presentations, 10 to 15 formal visits and social events, two to three days at the district conference, three to four hours per day of cultural and site tours, and three to four hours per day of free time with host families.

For each team member, the Foundation provides the most economical round-trip airline ticket between the home and host countries. Rotarians in the host area provide for meals, lodging, and group travel within their district.

The GSE for 2008-09 was with Brazil and it was an educational exchange.  We were delighted to meet 5 wonderful people from Brazil and spend a morning with them.  We toured the new Concordia University, the Austin Academy and enjoyed lunch at Nuevo Leon Restaurant in East Austin. 

Ambassadorial Scholarships

Peace Scholarships