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What began as an innovative idea for charitable fund raising has become an institution in our community. Hundreds of endurance athletes from around the state look forward to racing on our course each year. And, the local community looks forward to cheering the athletes onward.
Over the last twenty plus years, the Rotary Pineapple Man™ has allowed our club to make meaningful contributions to community projects at home and humanitarian projects abroad. Rotarians tend to be business oriented people who understand how important it is to be careful when spending charitable funds. We like to fund projects with definable goals and specific results.
Recently, the Wall Street Journal published an editorial that highlighted one of our international Rotary projects – Polio Plus, a very successful program that has the goal of wiping polio from the face of the Earth. The Wall Street Journal reported that Rotary's efforts represents "the most successful private healthcare initiative ever". With or without this level of praise, the good new is that we are almost there. After immunizing two billion kids, we have polio on the run.
Using a portion of the proceeds from last year's Pineapple Man race, we were able to immunize 10 children for every participant in the race. With about 300 athletes were able to directly protect 3,000 children from this dreadful disease. And, they will never be able to pass the disease on to others. What a powerful contribution to the health of the world!
We were also able to continue our efforts at funding historic preservation in Melbourne Beach. Over the years we have helped to restore historic buildings and maintain locations of historic significance. We believe that these efforts have made this community a better place to live - and hold a great triathlon.
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