Community Corner
Peachtree Corners Rotary Club Helps in Fight Against Polio
On Saturday Rotary Club members joined with Boy Scouts Troop 525 to hold a pancake breakfast fund raiser at Peachtree Elementary School as part of a worldwide effort to eradicate polio.
At Saturday’s Peachtree Corner Festival, the Peachtree Corners Rotary Club did its part in the worldwide fight to end polio.
Members of the Peachtree Corners Rotary Club joined with Boy Scouts from Troop 525 and held a pancake breakfast in conjunction with the 5k race that kicked off events for the City’s annual festival.
Club members, Boy Scouts, race runners, volunteers, family supporters, and members of the general public joined together for a fun event with a great purpose – the worldwide eradication of polio.
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“It was heartwarming to seeing everyone enjoying themselves for a good cause,” said Rotarian Bill Short.
Rotary clubs here and around the world are determined to do whatever it takes to achieve a world free of the crippling disease polio. A major part of that effort is to raise $200 million in response to a challenge grant of $355 million from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Proceeds from this fundraiser will go to Rotary’s End Polio Now campaign as well as the Club’s various service projects in the Gwinnett County area.
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“I saw plenty of smiles today from all the children enjoying pancakes and chocolate chip waffles. Our efforts today hopefully will allow children in those countries still affected by polio (Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Nigeria) a chance to smile as well,” said Rotarian Stephen Tuckwood.
Rotarian Yarden Hixson pointed out that Saturday’s event raised significant funds as part of a U.S. $355 million challenge grant from the Gates Foundation, which Rotary will match with an additional U.S. $200 million over three years, raising a much needed U.S. $555 million, all of it dedicated to polio eradication.
Several hundreds joined Saturday in the fight to end polio. In the battle against polio, it seems that pancakes are starting to be a big weapon. At the end of the breakfast, the Peachtree Corners Rotary Club was already making plans for next year’s event.
Rotary’s worldwide membership of 1.2 million men and women -- representing about 33,000 clubs in nearly 200 countries -- immediately embraced the effort by digging deeper into their own pockets, planning special fundraisers and rallying community support. Rotary invites everyone who wants to learn more about this historic opportunity to end polio once and for all to visit www.rotary.org/endpolio.
To learn more about the Peachtree Corners Rotary Club, contact President Jim Blum (jim@jimblumlaw.com) or Membership Chair Sam Evans (sevans@legacy-planning-group.com).