Suwannee Primary School (SPS), in partnership with the Rotary Club of Live Oak and the Suwannee High School (SHS) Interact Club, held a fundraiser on their campus raising money for Polio.

The fundraiser, called “The Purple Pinkie Project,” was initiated by The Rotary International to prevent the spreading of Polio. The idea was that members of the local Rotary and Interact club would visit schools where students would become involved in the project and donate a dollar. 

According to SPS Assistant Principal, Lisa Garrison, Rotary members would dip the student’s pinkie into the purple ink to prevent people from getting a double dosage of the vaccination. Garrison said, “To remind the students of how their dollar can save a life, their pinkie is painted purple. Hence the Purple Pinkie Project exists.  We do this to show the kids to be a part of something that will help save lives.” 588 pinkies were colored purple throughout the day.

Garrison went on to say, “While there is no cure for Polio, there is prevention. For as little as 70 cents, a child can be protected against this crippling disease for life. Students at SPS paid $1 to the Rotary Club of Live Oak for their pinkie to be painted purple. The Interact Club members from SHS painted the students' fingers. SPS students were excited about giving so that other children around the world could receive their polio vaccine.”