This event – named after the purple dye painted on a child's little finger to signify that they have been immunized against polio – is a fundraiser sponsored by the Rotary Club of Lakeway/Lake Travis and held in various elementary and middle schools through the school year.  On Friday, May 4, approximately 400 students at Serene Hills Elementary School had their fingers painted purple ($1 per finger!) to raise funds to support Rotary’s goal of the world-wide elimination of polio.

As a result of Rotary’s efforts so far, more than two billion children have received the oral polio vaccine. Since Rotary launched its PolioPlus campaign in 1985, the number of polio cases worldwide has dropped 99 percent, and the virus remains endemic in only three countries – Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan.

Immunization activities have been carried out by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, spearheaded by the World Health Organization (WHO), Rotary International, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and UNICEF .

"The extraordinary dedication of Rotary members has played a critical role in bringing polio to the brink of eradication," says Bill Gates, cochair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which has contributed over $200 million to PolioPlus.  "Eradicating polio will be one of the most significant public health accomplishments in history, and we are committed to helping reach that goal."

The polio eradication grant is one of the largest challenge grants ever given by the Gates Foundation and the largest grant received by Rotary in its 102-year history.  Since 1985, Rotary has made polio eradication its top priority and has contributed $633 million to the effort.

Thanks to all the students at Serene Hills Elementary school for their enthusiastic and strong support of this effort!  They raised approximately $810 during this event!

And thanks to Rotarians Jay Dolfuss (who organized the Purple Pinkie Project,) Melinda Osburn, Dick Dietz, Michael DeLaFuente, Earl Higgins, Gary Weldon, Ted McKnight, Clayton Amacker, Nancy Keetch and Jinger Poth . . . who's not yet a member of our club, but who obviously has a Rotarian's heart!

Once again, the Special Olympics Banquet on May 10th was one of the most inspiring meetings of the year!  This is always one of the club's favorite meetings.  32 Special Olympics athletes were honored by a recitation of their accomplishments by our own Jim Gentil as emcee, awarded a gold metal hung around their neck by club president, Wally El-Hitamy, and recognized by rousing applause from the entire luncheon guests.  Check out these photos: