SEATTLE, May 20: The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced on Monday that The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International has been selected to receive the Gates Award for Global Health.

The award recognizes Rotary’s leadership and impact in the field of public health, most notably the organization’s efforts to eradicate polio by 2005.

Rotary has contributed over 462 million dollars toward polio eradication, and has mobilized over one million of its members to help immunize more than two billion children in 122 countries.

The award not only recognizes Rotary’s work to end polio, but also its community service efforts to improve the health and welfare of those in need throughout the world.