Pennies for Polio

 Pennies for Polio.

In the grand scheme of things pennies can make a difference. Rotary International started in 1985 and proposed a plan to eradicate polio.  In 1988 there were 350,000 new cases of polio.  In 2012 there were just 223 new cases of polio.  Polio has been eradicated in all but Nigeria, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.  The end game is in site and plans are being made by Rotary International, WHO, UNIEF, with the support from many countries, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and many other generous donors to eradicate polio. 

 Since 1988, $10 billion has been raised from many sources in this effort.  The finish line is in sight.  The budget that has been assigned is $5.5 billion to defeat polio.  In February 2013, a year ago, there was a $700 million shortfall and numerous people have been giving generously towards that shortfall.

The Minnetonka Rotary supports this program every year.  The Minnetonka Rotary has instituted a program “Pennies for Polio” as a part of the bigger program at Rotary International called “PolioPlus”. 

 The Minnetonka Rotary passes a jug around the room during their meetings that allows every member to scrounge their pockets or purses for loose change or a couple of dollars to contribute.   “Not a big deal,” says Jerald Stiele, the Minnetonka Rotary Giving Foundation Chair, “but it gives every member the opportunity to contribute towards this cause.  The fact that this jug is being passed around at our meetings promotes an awareness of the polio goal and what Rotary International is trying to accomplish. The result is it allowed the Minnetonka Rotary to contribute over $1200 towards PolioPlus in 2013.  They have done similar amounts for the last three years.  Just for a benchmark, Rotary International raised $228 million from 2010 till June of 2012 with individual Rotary member donations and programs like this being the feeder to this larger number. Rotary International and over one million Rotarians have raised or contributed $1.2 billion towards this goal since 1988.”  

 Pennies for Polio is not going to eradicate polio all by itself, but the members of the Minnetonka Rotary are trying to do their part to eradicate polio. PolioPlus has immunized 2.5 billion children against polio and the numbers show that 99% of the goal has been accomplished by the dramatic drop in new polio cases.  Losing focus now could mean a resurgence in polio around the world, and Pennies for Polio will continue until polio is no longer a threat. 

 The Minnetonka Rotary is a service organization.  They meet on Wednesdays at 7:15am in the Eisenhower Community Center, 1001 Hi way 7.  For more information go to www.minnetonkarotary.org or www.rotary.org

Good-bye Polio .... Thanks Rotary