The Purple Pinkie Project was developed as a way to raise funds for Rotary International's PolioPlus Program to eradicate polio. Polio, and infectious disease that can cause paralysis and sometimes death, still strikes children, mainly under the age of five, in parts of Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. The Purple Pinkie Project raises money for the vaccine to be given to these children by Rotary volunteers. As there is no cure for polio, the best protection is prevention. For as little as .60 cents worth of vaccine, a child can be protected against this crippling disease for life. In 1985, Rotary International decided to direct its focus on eliminating polio worldwide. It would be only the 2nd disease wiped from the face of the earth. The PolioPlus program was formed, and Rotary partnered with the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and the Center for Disease Control. In 1985, polio existed in 125 countries and today, polio exists in 4 countries: Pakistan, Afghanistan, India and Nigeria. Rotary has donated over $600 MILLION, and have give the polio vaccine to over 2 BILLION children worldwide. This effort has protected 5 million children from contracting polio, and prevented the deaths of an estimated 1 million children.

Around the world, when children receive their oral polio vaccine from Rotarians, their pinkie finger is painted purple with Gentian Violet ink. This purple pinkie is recognized by all Oral Polio Vaccine Drops volunteers and prevents double dosing of the very valuable oral polio vaccine. A Florida Rotarian, John Wheeler, started the Purple Pinkie Project when he decided to purchase the same Gentian Violet used by Rotary International and enlisted the help of children in his local school district to help raise funds to eradicate polio. Over 7,000 children in their school district have participated in this project and children in Canada, Argentina, Brazil, and other countries now take part in the Purple Pinkie Project.

On the Purple Pinkie Project Day, Littlestown Rotarians and Littlestown High School Interact Club members will man a booth at the Good Ole Days Festival on August 21, 2010. Those who want to participate donate a $1.00 which is Rotary's approximate cost of vaccinating two children against polio. They will be given a purple pinkie as their very own personal reminder that they have helped protect other children from the polio virus. 100% of the funds raised are donated to Rotary International's PolioPlus Program.

This project proves that $1.00 can make a difference in a child's life...it prevents polio!