By Charley Dickey, Ambassador and Fundraising Committee Chair  

This week we have the privilege in the U.S. of celebrating thankfulness for our blessings.  Then, we enter a different season, defined by a different privilege, the privilege of allowing ourselves to direct those blessings to others, especially those whose lives lie at the mercy of malaria.

Malaria is a scourge that strikes the hardest on those who are the youngest and the poorest, and on a different continent.  MPI was founded 10 years ago to ignite a movement among Rotarians to put this treatable, curable, and we expect, soon to be eradicable disease as the Rotary’s next disease target following its successful multi-decade campaign to overcome polio in other lands.  We are on a pathway to do that.  COVID-19 has distracted our efforts some, but it has not diminished the strength and the progress of our cause. As a reminder, we have executed our mission by participating in the funding of a few large project partnerships, many small incubation grants, and by advocating constantly through Rotary convenings both digitally and in person.  MPI was a key partner in the selection of Rotary International’s first Project of Scale – Partners for a Malaria-Free Zambia.  In addition, through Small Grants, MPI is working with over a dozen sub-Saharan Africa Rotary Clubs to reduce the malaria menace in their immediate communities and draw attention to their work.

MPI’s Board and its Ambassadors are committed financially to this work.  In fact, one donor is willing to match all gifts up to a total of $10,000 and received by MPI before this December 31^st.  Then, the Gates Foundation has stepped up further to offer to match individual and foundation grants up to a total of $250,000.  Thus, a $500 gift, will be magnified three times to $1,500 by unlocking these series of matches.  Donations in cash, stock and appreciated securities are all matchable.

Know that in 2021, MPI was instrumental in marshalling, equipping, and training 2,865 Community Health Workers at a cost of $1,000 per CHW. Each CHW cares for 500 neighbors.  Their educating, testing, and treating comes to just $2 per person, per year! This is a smart investment! 

Spread the word to your friends and family as a reason for them to make it a part of their gift-giving to you or their loved ones this Holiday Season.  Their gifts will make a difference!

MPI continues to be grateful for all the ways your blessings support, and will support, the ever-growing visibility of our work among Rotarians.