Rotary volunteers raise funds for Purple Pinkie Donut Day

November 7, 2024 at 12:32 a.m.

Polio Plus Committee, from left, Kenneth Karas, Stacy Karas, Syed Alirahi, Mahbub Ahmad, Bina Ahmad, Michele Thomas, Barbara Hanna, Ruth Walker, Shazia Alirahi). Port Chester Dunkin Donuts owners and staff stand in the background. Missing: Eric Storberg. (Courtesy photo of Anita Bell)

On World Polio Day, Oct. 24, volunteers from Rotary District 7230 raised funds to eradicate polio by distributing delicious doughnuts with purple icing. Thanks to the Rotary District and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, funds raised by doughnut sales will be matched up to 7.5 times.

Michele Thomas, executive vice president of Home Care at The Osborn in Rye and chair of Rotary District 7230 Polio Plus Committee, spearheaded the fundraiser. Along with other volunteers, she was at the Dunkin in Port Chester to package up the special doughnuts. On behalf of Osborn Home Care, Thomas distributed the doughnuts to the Rye Police Station, The Enclave in Port Chester, The Pavilion, and Rye Presbyterian Church. Doughnuts were also delivered to other police stations and firehouses as well as food pantries.

    Purple Pinkie Donuts made especially for World Polio Day.
 Courtesy of Anita Bell   

Dunkin generously donated 100 dozen doughnuts to the district, and a small committee set out to "sell" them for $25 per dozen. In just 12 hours, all were sold out. The $2,500 raised from the doughnut sales will be matched up to 7.5 times, amounting to $18,750.

World Polio Day, which is on Oct. 24 every year, is also known as “Purple Pinkie Day” since kids being immunized have their pinkies marked with purple ink that lasts for 30 days to ensure they are not vaccinated more than once. This is why the Purple Pinkie Donut—a delicious, glazed doughnut with a dab of purple icing—was created.

Rotary has been working to eradicate polio for more than 35 years. Rotary members have contributed more than $2.1 billion and countless volunteer hours to protect nearly 3 billion children in 122 countries from this paralyzing disease.