Have you asked yourself how you can make a difference in the lives of kids across the globe without leaving Happy Valley and while having fun doing it?
Well, the members of the State College/Downtown Rotary Club are here to help! During October, you can enjoy ice cream and beer while doing good around the world during the second annual Pints Against Polio.
Seventy years ago, on April 12, 1955, a scientific breakthrough changed the course of public health and inspired hope worldwide. The polio vaccine developed by Jonas Salk and colleagues was officially declared “safe, effective, and potent”. Though eliminated in the Americas in 1994, Polio still threatens children in many parts of the world today.
Poliomyelitis is a highly infectious viral disease that most commonly affects children under the age of 5 but can affect people of any age. Most people know it as poliovirus or simply Polio. The virus is spread person to person, typically through contaminated water. It can attack the nervous system and, in some instances, lead to paralysis. Although there is no cure, a safe and effective vaccine exists – one that Rotary and our partners use to immunize over 400 MILLION children EVERY YEAR!
A polio-free world is possible, but we can achieve it only by acting together. This October, the State College/Downtown Rotary Club is partnering with Boal City Brewing, Meyer Dairy, and other local businesses for Pints Against Polio, a series of events intended to raise awareness and invite the public to participate in helping to eradicate Polio.
Our initiatives began in August with a beer naming contest during which 20 people donated $5 to End Polio Now to enter their recommended name for our special Pints Against Polio beer to be enjoyed in October. The owner and brewer at Boal City Brewing made the choice and now Boal City Brewing is brewing Purple Pinkie Pale Ale for Pints Against Polio. This California Ale draws its name from the purple marks on the pinkie fingers given to children when they are vaccinated.
We hope everyone will join us for these events:
- Wednesday, October 15: Purple Pinkie Pale Ale Launch event 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM Boal City Brewing 281 Old Boalsburg Rd, Boalsburg
- October 15 through October 25: Purple Pinkie Pale Ale Beer sales Boal City Brewing 281 Old Boalsburg Rd, Boalsburg
- Tuesday, October 21: Ice Cream Pints to Go (Plain and Blended) 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM Meyer Dairy Store 2390 S. Atherton St, State College
- Saturday, October 25: Pints Against Polio Celebration Boal City Brewing 281 Old Boalsburg Rd, Boalsburg
- Clem’s BBQ 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM
- Music by Honey Pie 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Our local partners, Boal City Brewing, Meyer Dairy, and Clem’s BBQ, will be donating a portion of sales to End Polio Now. Thanks to a 2 to 1 match from the Gates Foundation, every donation made to the Rotary Foundation at endpolio.org will be TRIPLED. The second annual Pints Against Polio is also supported by Stuckey Automotive, Doing Better Business (DBB), and WR Hickey, so that all funds raised go to End Polio Now.
Who is the State College/Downtown Rotarians? We are community leaders and hardworking professionals striving to make Happy Valley and Centre County better than ever. You have probably seen our members volunteering in the community. We are the folks who run the Ice Cream Fest every August and who co-sponsor theno-cost fresh produce market for Centre County residents eachsummer. And we work with area non-profit agencies throughout the year to help support programs for children and families in the region. We are People of Action. You can learn more by visiting our website: downtownstatecollegerotary.org.
One Response
Rotary is close to eradicating a deadly disease. Something only done one other time in human history. In 1985 1000 children per year were paralyzed by polio . In 2024 due to our efforts there were only 9 cases of wild polio all year!! Have a beer, have some ice cream, or just donate to help us achieve this historic elimination of Polio.