By Kitt Williams
You know how it feels to be “this close” to finishing an extended project. You feel inspired to take those steps needed to see it through to the end. Eradicating polio is just such a project for Rotary, which has been raising funds to knock out polio since 1985. Worldwide, cases have dropped precipitously from 350,000 per year to several hundred per year. When you consider that 17 people in every 200 who become infected with the disease suffer irreversible paralysis, this terrible scourge continues to require a concerted effort to eradicate it completely. To put the successful efforts into perspective, 17.4 million people who are currently healthy would have been paralyzed by polio without Rotary’s efforts over the past thirty years. In addition, during the same period, the number of countries where polio is endemic went from 125 to 3. We are, indeed, “this close!”
Coronado Rotary has identified a unique way to draw attention to eradicating polio while enjoying a great party. Annually, the club organizes a winetasting event that raises funds for this important cause. The leaders behind this highly successful effort are Pat Flynn and Sue Maack. Pat has been a Rotarian since 2014; Sue has been a member since 2016 and both had heard about the event even before they joined. Pat is a fortunate polio survivor; Sue was motivated by a friend who previously chaired the event. Together, they bring a large group of volunteers together to motivate the club to contribute through a live auction, silent auction, wine six-pack raffles and outright donation requests. This year’s event netted $93,600 to date, an increase of 36% over the amount raised at the 2018 Winetasting Event.
The most inspiring aspect of donating to ending polio is that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation matches 2 to 1 for every dollar donated. Eradicating polio is a key objective for Bill and Melinda and their foundation backs it up with extraordinary support. Bill Gates recognizes Rotary’s long-standing efforts to defeat this devastating disease by serving as a willing partner in this worthwhile effort. The tally to date for Coronado Rotary with the Bill and Melinda Gates match will be $280,800, truly a figure that will make a significant difference in the fight to end polio.
Why is this event so successful? Sue put it best when she said, “End Polio Now is a worldwide effort that is possible.”
We’re “this close” so we can’t give up now!
As you plan your charitable giving near year-end, we encourage you to donate to this important cause! Your donations are gratefully accepted at the Coronado Rotary website: http://coronadorotary.org/ Just scroll down on the right hand side to find the End Polio Now donation link.
