PolioPlus Musical Celebration
Posted by Sean Hogan
on Oct 09, 2012
Great Event - Great Celebration!
Great Fundraiser: Over $89,000!
The PolioPlus Musical Celebration on Friday, September 7, 2012 was a great success and raised over $89,000 - enough money to immunize over 170,000 children!
The evening started with complimentary food and drinks and two hours of mingling, chatting and catching up with friends from across the District.
Past Rotary International President Ray Klinginsmith gave an inspired and personal conversation with the audience about the history and the challenges of the fight against polio. Rotary has been so successful in its fight that there have only been 128 reported cases of polio to date in 2012.
He reminded us that we are literally "This Close" to ending polio.
Past President Ray also awarded the prestigious Service Above Self award, one of Rotary's highest awards, to our own Jack Frisk, who served as our District Governor in 1992-1993 and remains a member of the Anacortes Rotary Club.
Composer Rick Vale was also honored with a Paul Harris recognition for his four year work to create the musical composition that served as the centerpiece of the evenings entertainment.
Then the musical portion of the event began with the Color Guard of firefighters and the National Anthems.
Mr. O' Canada, Mark Donnelly performed three songs and brought the audience to their feet.
The balance of the program was stunningly performed by the talented orchestra and soulful choir building to a great conclusion with a children's choir taking the stage to join in on the finale, Let There Be Peace On Earth.
Amidst the thunderous applause, Emcee Governor Sean thanked the performers, Composer Rick Vale and Conductor David Cross.
Governor Sean also thanked the organizing Committee and particularly Rotarians Dick Irwin, Winston Conyers and Lee Harman (who also performed in the choir).
As of August 2012, Rotary District 5050 had raised around $960,000 in three years towards PolioPlus. With the support of the clubs and individual Rotarians to Golfun and the PolioPlus Musical Celebration, we not only raised $1 Million, we are well on our way to raising $1.1 Million Dollars.
That means, with polio drops costing 52 cents to immunize a child, that our District has raised enough money to save two million children!
We are only 128 infections and 3 countries away from the total eradication of polio.
The only risk to the success of PolioPlus is complacency. We must continue to raise money and to take part in immunizations until every last child is safe and the disease exists only in the fading memory of healthy children.
Special thanks to the leadership of Governor Jane and the 2011-12 club Presidents who made this celebration possible by their work last year to raise funds and get us to the Million Dollar mark, as well as to all of the previous Governors, Club & District leaders and Rotary members who have made Rotary District 5050 a global leader in the fight against polio.
As of January 2012, our District was #7 in the world and we believe that with these continued fundraising events, we may be at the #5 position.
Congratulations to all!
See more pictures and follow the discussion on our District Facebook page