As Phoenix residents gaze at the downtown skyline tonight, they may see an unfamiliar message emblazoned on a building.
Arizona Rotary Clubs are projecting the sign onto the Freeport-McMoRan building to bring awareness of Rotary International’s goal to eradicate polio. The “End Polio Now” sign will be an addition to the downtown Phoenix scenery Sunday and Monday night.
“We’re doing a lot to make people aware of polio and what Rotary is doing to end polio. We want to bring awareness to what our mission is: service above self,” said Alan Havir, Rotary International District Governor. “We bring peace to the world by ridding the world of polio, (improving) literacy, clean water, and child and women’s health.”
Rotary is a community and international service club made up of local business and community leaders. There are 1.2 million Rotarians around the world in more than 34,000 clubs. Ray Klinginsmith, former Rotary International president, said many people don’t realize that polio still exists, which emphasizes the importance to raise awareness about it.
“We have a long way to go yet. It takes a lot to keep immunizing people to get rid of that virus,” Havir said.
On Sunday, Rotary held an event in Margaret T. Hance park to light the sign, celebrate their efforts toward ending polio and keeping Rotarians excited about continuing those efforts. The event included music, a barbecue and speakers with polio and cerebral palsy.
Speaker Jerry Traylor has cerebral palsy and spoke about the effect polio has on so many people. He said he hopes the projected sign will provoke curiosity about Rotary’s efforts.
Klinginsmith was impressed by the number of people who came to the event to support the eradication of polio when it doesn’t directly affect them.
The projector lighting the building is located on top of ASU’s University Center’s parking structure. The image will appear between the 11th and 22nd floors on the north side of the building between 6 p.m. and 11 p.m.
Freeport-McMoRan and the Westin supported the event because they’re community minded companies and know the power of Rotary, Havir said.
“What is interesting is that Freeport-McMoRan is a glass building. There’s a lot of light that’s going to be absorbed,” said Cindy Kenna, a producer for Merestone lighting company. “So people have to close their shades and the Westin has no people booked on that side of the hotel.”
The same logo has been projected on the Sydney Opera House in Australia, the Houses of Parliament in Great Britain, the Coliseum in Rome and the San Francisco Ferry Building, according to a statement.
Rotary began its fight against polio in 1985 because the organization believed, with enough effort, it was a feasible goal. Havir said ending polio is still Rotary’s number one priority.
“It’s one of those diseases that cripples children. If you look around the world at children who have polio, its just awful,” Havir said.
All of the money Rotary raises goes to buying the anti-virus drops. Volunteers travel to other countries to administer the vaccine on their own expense. According to a press release, Arizona’s goal is to raise $250,000.
Rotary International’s overall goal is $200 million.
Rotary has been raising money to buy an oral vaccine and send volunteers around the world to administer the vaccine. They have worked with other nonprofits and foundations to raise this money.
Polio is a disease that can cause muscle weakness and paralysis. A vaccine was first developed in the early 1950s. But, as traveling became easier and more popular, Rotary realized to rid America of the disease would involve ridding the entire world of the disease too.
Klinginsmith said Rotary thought India would be the last country with polio because of its dense population and unsanitary conditions. But, India has not had any cases of polio in the last 12 months. After immunizing millions of people every year, polio is known to exist only in Nigeria, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Polio will be considered successfully eradicated after there are no new cases for 3 years.
Arizona Rotary also sponsors 800 Miles to End Polio Now. Available throughout the year, Rotarians pledge to hike, bike or horseback ride all or a portion of the Arizona trail, which stretches from the Mexico to Utah borders.
Contact the reporter at jlzook@asu.edu
