Music is an international language. Each year, the 5 Fargo-Moorhead Rotary Clubs work together with the FM Youth Symphony to organize the "Recital With a Cause." Top level student musicians perform solo selections from classical composers. They showcase their award-winning pieces at the Recital with a Cause, whose proceeds benefit Rotary International's polio eradication efforts.

 

This year, there is a pre-concert dinner at the Sons of Norway, featuring Tim Mulcrone from Minneapolis. Mulcrone has an Indiana Jones presentation regarding polio eradication. The dinner is $15 and open to everyone. Social starts at 4:30 with the buffet dinner served at 5:15. Tickets must be purchased in advance for the dinner. 

 

Rotary's goal has been to eradicate polio worldwide. Polio is a crippling disease that attacks muscles leading to paralysis and death in approximately 1%, and lasting disabilities in another 1% of its victims. As late as 1988 there were 350,000 new cases of polio annually.

 

Through Rotary's involvement with a worldwide network of health care partners, by 2023 the numbers dropped to 6 cases in Pakistan and 6 cases in Afghanistan. That progress was possible because of innovators and frontline heroes who brought the solutions to children, even in the most remote parts of the world. However, until the last case is eliminated, we must give the vaccine to 40,000,000 children each year.

 

Beginning with our first Recital in 2010, the Fargo Moorhead Rotary Clubs have raised over $195,000 for Polio Plus, most of which has been double matched by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The human impact has provided full immunity to 730,000 children and prevented 14,000 from suffering the moderate to severe effects of polio. This year, "Recital with a Cause" is the District's signature event on the eve of its District Conference in Fargo. 

 

With your generous contribution, we thank you for joining Rotary's efforts to eradicate polio around the world. 

 

Donations can be made securely at this online portal (be sure to choose Recital with a Cause in the drop-down menu).