Thanks to Rotary Club members, over $230 million has been raised since 1987 to provide polio immunizations to 2.4 million children throughout the world. All of the money came from pledges made by Rotarians.

The immunization program, called PolioPlus, originated in the United States to help stamp out polio in Third World countries. It is sponsored and funded by The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International.

Since 1987, The Rotary Foundation has worked with United Nations World Health Organization medical personnel, who administer the polio immunizations in Third World countries. WHO has pledged to eradicate poliomyelitis from the world by the year 20000.

In addition to polio shots, children and infants receive measles and DPT (diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus) immunizations as part of the program.

The PolioPlus program has proved so successful that the White House asked The Rotary Foundation in 1991 to help improve immunization levels in the United States, especially in the inner cities and in poorer, rural areas.

Of the $230 million pledged, over $322,000 came from Rotarians in Rotary International's Southeast Missouri District 6090. The district extends from Jefferson County to the Arkansas line, and westward from the Mississippi River to Rolla and Willow Springs.

Stone Manes, a member of the Jackson Rotary Club, has served since 1987 as chairman of District 6090's PolioPlus program. This week Manes was cited for his work in helping raise the money pledged by Rotarians in the 38 district Rotary clubs.

The award was presented by Robert I. Morrow, past (1987-88) District 6090 governor. When Rotary International took on the PolioPlus Project in 1987, Morrow appointed Manes as district PolioPlus chairman.

Morrow said three of the 38 district Rotary Clubs most responsible for the $322,000 in pledges were in Cape Girardeau and Jackson. Manes said 71 members of the Cape Girardeau Rotary Club raised $42,892 for PolioPlus. In Jackson, 45 club members pledged and raised $30,835, and 64 members of Cape Girardeau West Rotary Club raised $20,537.

Manes said when PolioPlus began the cost of the polio vaccine was 12 cents a dose; today it is 36 cents.

"PolioPlus is not over," Manes said. "It will continue to be an on-going project of Rotary International. Our members have pledged to continue the program to help stamp out polio and the other childhood diseases that claim the lives of infants and young children in the world."