Purple Pinkie Project: This Thursday (September 8, 2011)
The Rotary Club of West Jacksonville will have the opportunity to conduct a Purple Pinkie Project for the first time this Thursday (September 8, 2011) at the Chaffee Trail Elementary school open house.
WHAT IS THE PURPLE PINKIE PROJECT?
Throughout the world, each time a Rotary volunteer administers a polio vaccine, a child’s pinkie is colored purple with the topical solution Gentian Violet - temporarily marking him to prevent double dosage on National Immunization Days (NID). In 2003, the Rotary Club of Lake City came up with the idea for the Purple Pinkie Project to create awareness about Rotary International’s Polio Eradication program among children and adults. Since then, the Purple Pinkie Project has been successfully duplicated by Rotary clubs all over the world as a purple pinkie has become a symbol of Rotary’s fight to end polio.
Other clubs that have coordinated a Purple Pinkie Project collect a $1 donation for every pinkie that is colored purple. However, due to school policies we will not be requesting donations. The purpose of this project will solely be for awareness. Nonetheless, the Rotary Club of West Jacksonville has committed to making a $1 donation to the End Polio campaign for every student at Chaffee Trail Elementary ($800).
The Chaffee Trail Purple Pinkie Project is being orchestrated by Brandon Hillard with assistance from Eric Sherman who coordinates our EarlyAct program at Chaffee Trail. Posters have been placed around the school and the project is being promoted on the school’s daily morning show.
WANT TO PARTICIPATE?
If you would like to participate please send an e-mail to Brandon Hillard. You will need to wear something that you don’t mind getting a little dirty as the gentian violet can get messy. We will need a few folks to be painters and others to organize the line while explaining the program to those waiting. Volunteers will need to meet at five in front of Chaffee Trail Elementary. Everything should be wrapped up by 7:30.
We know it’s short notice, but we hope you can join us in this terrific program.
