GREENSBURG, IN — Rotary members in Greensburg are taking action for World Polio Day to raise awareness, funds, and support to end polio, a vaccine-preventable disease that still threatens children in parts of the world today.
While World Polio Day is officially recognized by Rotary International on Sunday, October 24, members of the Greensburg Rotary Club #3437 in District #6580, will recognize the effort with a special coffee event at The Branch Gathering Place and Coffee House in downtown Greensburg on Thursday, October 21.
From 11 am until 1 pm, local Rotarians will be at The Branch and will staff a table of polio and Rotary information. Thanks to the efforts of Rotarians Lora Williams of Williams Law Office and Kelby Owens of Phase Financial, the local Rotary club will provide 65 cups of coffee or a special drink created for this event in recognition of World Polio Day. Only one drink coupon per person will be allowed during this event. To receive a coupon, you must visit the Rotary Club’s vendor table set up inside The Branch between 11 am and 1 pm. on October 21.
Greensburg Mayor Joshua Marsh will sign a proclamation for World Polio Day at the start of the event at 11 am.
The drink will be your choice of The Branch special of purple vanilla crème or The Branch mocha with purple sprinkles. Purple represents the color Rotarians recognize worldwide as being
associated with the End Polio campaign.
When Rotary and its partners launched the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in 1988, there were 350,000 cases of polio in 125 countries every year. Today, polio cases have been reduced
by 99.9 percent, and just two countries continue to report cases of wild poliovirus: Afghanistan and Pakistan. Rotarians remain committed to the end.
With polio nearly eradicated, Rotary and its partners must sustain this progress and continue to reach every child with the polio vaccine. Without full funding and political commitment, this
paralyzing disease could return to polio-free countries, putting children everywhere at risk. Rotary has committed to raising US$50 million each year to support global polio eradication
efforts. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has pledged to match that 2-to-1, for a total yearly contribution of $150 million.
“Greensburg Rotarians continue to step up to fight this disease, which is so close to being eradicated from the world,” Greensburg Club President Jenni Hanna said. “We certainly appreciate the efforts of Williams Law Office and Phase Financial as well as that of local Rotarian Alex Sefton of The Branch, in helping to bring public awareness to the fight. Also, local Rotarian Jerry Fox has been a long-time vocal advocate in this effort against polio.”
Rotary has contributed more than $2.2 billion to ending polio since 1985.
(Information provided by Greensburg Rotary Club/Jeff Emsweller)
