By José Antonio Perez
Under the larger framework of Rotary International’s “The World’s Greatest Meal” initiative in working to eradicate polio worldwide, the Rotary Club of Puerto Peñasco announced they raised just over 52,000 pesos (or rather, $2764 USD) during the Oct. 24th dinner event held at Mare Blu, after selling 251 tickets – along with sale of a number of commemorative t-shirts.
Accompanied by several members of the local Rotary Club, current Club President Julio César Valenzuela detailed the club’s donation had already been deposited to the Polio Plus program of Rotary, which, with matching funds from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, will help provide approximately 350,000 polio vaccinations in countries where the illness persists.
In this manner, Puerto Peñasco has put its grain of sand into the global project set on completely eradicating polio from the planet, as currently only Afghanistan and Pakistan are still under polio watch.
Valenzuela noted, “We donated 100% of the funds raised from the dinner to Polio Plus, along with additional funds from the sale of “End Polio Now” t-shirts.”
He furthered the results were 70% above the planned goal, as the initial goal was to raise 30,000 pesos for the local club’s donation. He thanked the entire community of Puerto Peñasco for once again showing their solidarity with worthwhile causes, adding he is confident the community will continue to support projects of the local Rotary Club for the benefit of Puerto Peñasco.
The Puerto Peñasco Rotary Club (CR Mar de Peñasco, A.C.) meets Wednesdays @ 8 a.m. at Don Julio on the malecón.
