The Rotary Foundation: End Polio Now

Tim Mulcrone, Polio Plus Chair for Rotary District 5950.

Tim is holding up a shirt worn by the many District 5950 Rotarians who served as greeters, registrars and participant guides for the participants in the March for Babies at the Mall of America on Saturday, April 25.

The Back story:  The March of Dimes was born out of polio stricken President FDR’s desire to fund research for The National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis.  That organization became March of Dimes (for the dimes that were sent to the White House) and funded the work of Doctors Salk and Sabin; that research led to the polio vaccines.  The March of Dimes changed focus a bit though still today promotes vaccination schedules.  Rotary adopted the effort of eradication in 1985 and has been the major driving force in fund raising and inoculating children ever since.

For more information about End Polio Now, go to their website: http://www.endpolionow.org