One Day. One Focus: Ending Polio

World Polio Day is October 24 and we invite you to join us at Wanker’s Corner Saloon & Cafe in Wilsonville for a special Pints for Polio event! 10% of all purchases during the day will support the fight to end polio, and you can make an even bigger impact by painting your pinkie purple for $5 from 6–8:30 pm. Plus, enjoy live music from Wilsonville’s own singer-songwriter Michele Van Kleef from 7–7:30 pm.

Rotary has played a monumental role in the global fight against polio. Since launching PolioPlus in 1985, Rotary has contributed over $2.1 billion and countless volunteer hours to immunize more than 2.5 billion children in 122 countries. Rotary’s advocacy efforts have also helped secure over $10 billion in donations from governments and other partners for the cause.

Today, there are only a few known cases of polio in the world, primarily in Afghanistan and Pakistan, though there may be more undetected cases. If we stopped vaccinations today, there could be 200,000 new cases annually within a decade. This is why it’s critical to keep up the fight.

What’s the meaning behind the purple pinkie? In countries where polio is still a threat, a child’s pinkie is dipped in purple dye to show they have received the life-saving polio vaccine. It’s a symbol of hope and protection.

Every donation is matched 2:1 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, so your $5 becomes $15. Let’s paint the town purple and help make history by ending polio for good!