Posted by Larry Coon

COLOR ME PINKIE PURPLE

The Rotary Club of Kenmore and their sponsored Interact clubs at Kenmore East and Kenmore West performed their annual Purple Pinkie Project fundraiser in the Ken Ton School District in late January. The volunteers painted Purple Gentian Violet on the pinkie finger of students who donated a dollar toward Polio eradication.  The students wear their purple pinkie badge of honor as a reminder of the impact they have made.  They also receive a lifesaver piece of candy as a thank you and to symbolize the life they have saved with the donation.  
 
The heaviest of the lifting was shouldered by teams of Kenmore Interactors performing the event at 5 different schools.  It was also made possible, however with help from Rotarians in neighboring Amherst Rotary and some special EarlyActors from the Clarence YMCA club. Pictured (left) is the Gabe Maddalena family who visited their home club's meeting, Rotary Club of Amherst, with newly acquired expertise on how to execute the fundraiser.
 
Pictured are (L to R)  Gabe, wife Kim and their two children, Anna and Anthony, Fiona Barretto, President Mike Randall. 
 
The kids' EarlyAct Club is soon to be chartered. The famous Pink Flamingo was on hand to witness the festivities.
 
Pictured (right) at Franklin Middle School is Kim and Anna Maddalena with Kenmore Rotarian Larry Coon.
 
Also volunteering at the event was the University of Buffalo Rotaract Club President Evan Gestwick who helped provide supplies through a grant that his club received through the 2018 District Conference Shark Tank Competition. 
 
$8400 was generated for Polio vaccines after $1400 was raised and matched (1:1) by Kenmore Rotary and (2:1) by the Gates Foundation.