Hat auction nets US$17,600

By Antoinette Tuscano
Rotary International News -- 13 February 2009

The hat Bill Gates wore at the 2009 International Assembly in San Diego while announcing a new US$255 million challenge grant to Rotary netted $17,600 in an eBay auction to support eradicating polio. Rotary Images/Monika Lozinska-Lee

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A winning bid of US$17,600 was received for the hat that Bill Gates wore and autographed at Rotary’s 2009 International Assembly.

The signed baseball cap was sold on eBay through an auction that ended 12 February, with proceeds going to help support Rotary’s US$200 Million Challenge for polio eradication.

Gates also wore the hat in India while he was immunizing children against polio.

See more information about how you can help in the fight to End Polio Now at www.rotary.org/endpolio .
See the video of Gates announcing the new $255 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation at the assembly.
Read RI news coverage of the announcement.
See the worldwide media attention the announcement received.

20 Comments:

At 12:15PM on 20 April 2009, Maddison McMaster wrote: That is an incredible contribution, good work. Bill Gates is an incredible person and is doing great things for the world. And congratulations and thankyou to Angie for the bid on the hat.

At 9:54AM on 3 April 2009, RTN.NASIRU BABA DISTRICT 9125 KATSINA METROPOLIS wrote: The Bill Gates courage should serve as an outstanding example to uncountable Billions in Nigeria.Success in Life is not the Wealth you gather in your town or globally,But How you utilised it(THE WEALTH) to make your surroundings Happy,I SAY TWELVE BOSSASSSSS TO THE GATES.

At 2:26PM on 13 March 2009, Tommie Buscemi wrote: Angie Jimenez, (District 5890, Rotary Club of Houston) is a Rotarian with a huge heart, and a passion for Rotary! He is an inspiration to every Rotarian in District 5890. His winning bid to purchase the cap is remarkable, but Angie's Rotary work goes beyond writing a check - he does lots of "sweat equity" projects. Special thanks to Bill Gates, Jr., and Angie, for their contribution to PolioPlus, and for their personal devotion to "Service Above Self".

At 9:27AM on 27 February 2009, Rtn Sandesh Savant wrote: Rotarians in India should take inspiration from Bill Gates and his foundation and get charged up to eradicate Polio once and for all. There should be no excuses for not actively participating in all NID/SNID's and contributing towards the Gates Challenge.

At 4:10PM on 26 February 2009, mahesh urs wrote: Hat off to Bill GATES,a real human being.

At 2:00PM on 24 February 2009, Angie Jimenez wrote: I am proud and anxious to receive the hat from Pres. D.K. Lee on March 12th in Houston, Texas The last minute of the auction raised my blood pressure up to max! I am happy to say that I could afford to donate that money for Polio Plus. And... I will never wear the hat, but exhibit it to try to raise more money for Polio Plus.

At 9:55AM on 19 February 2009, Jim Mattes wrote: Like all DGEs' i was so excited at IA when Bill walked on stage. I believe that Rotarians and friends like BIll can beat that terrible disease by 2019.

At 9:54AM on 19 February 2009, Rtn.Hemant Landge wrote: Great Contribution, I agree with the few Rotarians, Mr. Gates should visit India when we take Nation wide Polio Booth program, it will help more then his contribution.

At 10:12AM on 18 February 2009, Rtn Alan de Roer,D9320,SouthAfrica wrote: Rotary International is doing great work and with the help of such generous Foundations as Bill Gates, RI will accomplish greatness in the not so distant future.

At 10:09AM on 16 February 2009, Chinedu Ebo wrote: We were overjoyed when Bill & Rotary Visited Nigeria. I am convinced that this visit is an added impetus to the overall effort to radicate Polo in our world.

At 10:38AM on 16 February 2009, Rtn Paul Agbroko, D9140 Nigeria wrote: I am just left wondering whether Rotary would have got anywhere in her final push to ending Polio, without a benefactor and God's gift to humanity that we have in Bill and Melinda Gates

At 10:43AM on 16 February 2009, Dean Dickinson wrote: I applaud the Gates Foundation but have to think that credit needs to pass also to Warren Buffet who in 2008 provided over 1.5 billion to the Gates Foundation with orders to put the money to work.

At 3:30PM on 13 February 2009, Rtn. Manoj Kumar Jain PHF wrote: Bill Gates is a true friend of Rotary. He should visit India once for giving Polio Eradication a final push. He will really motivate Indians and make India Polio free.

At 8:53AM on 12 February 2009, Raj Ghuman wrote: Great !!! The world will always remember Rotary & Bill Gate as the terminater of Deadly POLIO from the face of earth.

At 10:33AM on 9 February 2009, Rohan Karunaratne wrote: Yes, Sir Rotary was responsible for irradicating Polio from Sri Lanka, but our big brother India is yet to clear the hurdle. We would be pleased to assist.

At 10:35AM on 9 February 2009, james wrote: God bless you Bill Gates,keep up the selfless service to humanity,your reward is great hereafter. JAMES,

At 11:10AM on 9 February 2009, Sam Howat wrote: It's always nice to see successful people give back and try to make a difference with both their time and money!

At 11:18AM on 9 February 2009, Ed Hallock wrote: As an IT professional for over 30 years, and a Rotarian for the past 15, my hat is off to Mr. Gates -- or Bill as I understand the folks at Micrsoft called him. I have seen the CEOs of software companies accumulate personal wealth on the backs of their employees without giving consideration to the problems of world or those in need. Thanks to Bill & Melinda for "Making our Rotary Dreams Real".

At 11:18AM on 9 February 2009, Rtn.somu krishna Murthy wrote: Bill Gates is really a boon to eradicate Polio and his support to the TRF is marvolous. I wish him to keep his good work to demonstrate `Mankind is our business;.

At 12:17PM on 4 February 2009, Cliff Jorgensen wrote: Bill Gates has done a lot with the gifts that God has given to him to manage. It seems he is being a pretty good steward and is trying to make a differnce in the lives of those less fortunante.

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