WAIS Interact and the Purple Pinkie Project

Posted by Dan Monson 
on May 28, 2015
 
The Westchester Academy Interact Club had a successful fundraiser called the Purple Pinkie Project.  They will present the check to us to forward on to Rotary International.  How do the efforts of these students impact the world around us?  In 1985, when Rotary launched a worldwide fight against polio, the disease existed in 193 countries.  In 1988, there were approximately 350,000 individual cases reported.  So far this year, there have been 24 new cases of polio reported.  That's hundreds of thousands of lives saved!  Here is how the Purple Pinkie Project works:
 
Throughout the world, each time a Rotary International volunteer administers an oral polio vaccine, the child’s pinkie and cuticle is stained purple with the topical solution Gentian Violet Ink.  This bright purple ink stains the skin for 4-5 days and when the next volunteer visits the home, they know to look at the pinkie, and if it is purple, it prevents them from giving the child another dose of vaccine.
 
The cost for giving the oral polio vaccine is 60 cents, so when a student here donates at least $1.00, the Interactors paint their pinkie purple with the same Gentian Violet used throughout the world on eradication day as symbol of one child saved from polio.  Of course, more than one finger can be painted for $1.00 each. Usually, the school nurse and/or PE teacher uses this event as an opportunity to educate students about polio, and how they can help.  Children are drawn to this “purple badge” in their desire to help save other children from polio.
 
In lieu of using the ink, Interactors give purple yarn bracelets (a skein of purple yarn from Wal-Mart costs around $5), use purple "Crayola" brand non-toxic markers, or even purple "Sharpie" markers.  You could also paint the nail of the pinkie with purple nail polish, purple glitter in their hair, or even spray-on temporary purple hair color available during Halloween.
 
Remember this project the next time you see one of our Interactors and be sure to ask about it!