On April 28, 2006, members of the Early Act Club of Franklin School will raise money for polio eradication.
In 1985, Rotary International began raising funds in an effort to eliminate Polio worldwide. Although Polio has not been a problem in the United States for many years, this is not the case in many developing countries. By partnering with the World Health Organization and other government and private groups, Rotary International has achieved a ninety-nine percent (99%) reduction of Polio worldwide. Through the “Purple Pinkie Project”, Franklin School students will be part of the solution.
The estimated cost to immunize one child is $1 and local students have been encouraged to help with this cause. Each time a student puts $1 in the Purple Pinkie Bucket, we will paint his pinkie with Gentian Violet as a symbol of one child being immunized against Polio. If a student brings in more than $1, additional fingers will be painted.
Gentian Violet is a topical dye used by Rotary International to mark children after they have been immunized against Polio helping to prevent a double dosage. Doctors and pharmacists have confirmed it’s safety and it is widely used by nursing mothers and in the mouths of infants. However, Gentian Violet is brilliantly purple and will leave the child’s finger colored for a day or two.