Founded by Chicago lawyer Paul P. Harris, nearly 100 years ago, Rotary International (RI) is a worldwide organization of 28,531 clubs in 158 countries with a membership of nearly 1.2 million men and women. They are joined together to provide service both in their local community and in the international community. Rotarians, who have embraced the organization's motto, "Service Above Self," represent a cross section of all types of businesses, vocations and professions.

The Main objective of the Rotary Club is service – in the community, in the work place. and throughout the world.  Rotarians develop community service projects that address many of today’s most critical issues, such as children at risk,, poverty and hunger, the environment, illiteracy, and violence. They also support programs for youth, educational opportunities, and international exchange for students, teachers, and other professionals, and vocational and career development.

In the 1980’s, Rotarians around the world raised US$240 million to immunize the children of the world; by 2005, Rotary centenary year and the target date for the certification of a POLIO-FREE-WORLD, the PolioPlus program will have contributed US$500 million to this cause.