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Community Corner

Wakefield Rotarians and Students Plunge to End Polio

Rotary District 7930 will hold its 4th annual Polar Plunge on Saturday, February 1st, at Long Beach in Gloucester at noon.  The event is part of Rotary International’s ongoing campaign to eradicate polio in our lifetime. More than 300 people are expected to plunge into the cold waters off Cape Ann this year including members of the Rotary Club of Wakefield. Last year, over 250 people braved the icy waters, raising more than $80,000, doubling the previous year’s amount.

 

Since 1985, Polio has become the signature cause for Rotary International as it has teamed up with partners including The Global Poverty Project, The Global Eradication Initiative, The World Health Organization, and The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Since that time, more than a billion dollars have been raised among Rotary clubs worldwide and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.  When Rotary International took on the battle against this disease, more than 350,000 people spanning 125 countries were impacted. Today there are three countries left where it has not been eradicated-- Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria.

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This year, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has pledged a 2:1 match for every dollar Rotarians raise toward eradication efforts (up to $35 million/year until 2018). For as little as $0.60, your donation can make the difference in changing a person’s life. Please support your local Rotarians and high school Interact students as they brave the icy waters off Gloucester to help eradicate polio in our lifetime. The Wakefield Club has set a goal at $10k, to aid in the district’s goal of raising $100,000.  The district is utilizing an electronic fundraising process.  Supporters are encouraged to log on to www. wakefieldrotaryclub.org and make a pledge to help Rotarians lead the way to eradicate this dreaded disease. The team is happy to welcome private tax-deductible donations and corporate matches.

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For more information on how the Rotary Club of Wakefield serves the local and global community, visit www.wakefieldrotaryclub.org or contact the club at wakefieldrotaryclub@yahoo.com. To learn more about the global effort to eradicate polio, visit endpolionow.org.

 


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