When 28 year old entrepreneur Matt Mason joined the Rotary Club of Reading Matins he was particularly interested in the worldwide Rotary effort to eradicate polio.
Matt enjoys computer games and remembered that Yogscast, the biggest YouTube video production company for games in the UK, had developed locally in Reading. He recalled that they ran a Christmas Charity Campaign each year and contacted the company, asking whether Rotary’s End Polio Now project might be one of their chosen charities in the 2014 charity campaign.
Supported by club members Matt made all the necessary links and was delighted when Yogscast informed him that End Polio Now had been selected for inclusion with four other charities. Each night through December Yogscast ran Jingle Jam events promoting the charities and their world-wide subscribers made donations in exchange for bundles of games.
Through December the donations continued to grow and over $1 million was given by Yogscast subscribers for the 5 charities with a massive £135,000 going to End Polio Now.
Reading Matins President Geoff Poland said, “Matt had a great idea and made everything happen with support from other club members. This has been a superb effort and demonstrates how members can work together with others to make a real difference.”
President Geoff and Matt are also delighted that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation have pledged to give £2 for every £1 raised by Rotary towards polio eradication. This means that End Polio Now will benefit by £405,000 which will make a colossal impact towards their aim of finally eradicating polio worldwide.
For more information about Rotary in the Reading click here.
