Rotary Club of Half Moon Bay and Odd Fellows Team to End Polio: Jonas Salk Author Charlotte Jacobs Featured Speaker at 4th An

In its 4th year, a casual community spaghetti dinner co-sponsored by the Rotary Club of Half Moon Bay and the Odd Fellows Lodge 143 will raise funds to fight polio on November 1. With just 3 countries remaining with endemic cases, this goal is now achievable. The life of Jonas Salk will be highlighted in a talk by New York Times Notable Books author and Stanford MD Charlotte Jacobs. While his vaccine ended a devastating epidemic in the United States in the 50’s, he faced his major challenges from the scientific community establishment. Dr. Jacobs brings his accomplishment and challenges to life in her book Jonas Salk: A Life.

All proceeds from the event will go directly to the Rotary International’s End Polio Now fund with a 2:1 match grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. $20 per ticket buys a great home-cooked spaghetti dinner, salad, dessert, with wine available for purchase by the glass or bottle. Last year’s event raised over $12,000 in local and matching funds. Dinner organizer and Rotarian/Odd Fellow Joe Brennan commented, “We make sure that all the food, volunteer work, supplies, and venue are provided so that we maximize the financial impact of this fundraiser.”

Based on last year’s successful collaboration, the spaghetti dinner will take place with funding by Rotarians to underwrite food expenses and dinner donations, the generous provision of a dinner venue by the Senior Coastsiders, and the volunteer efforts of the Ocean View Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows to cook, serve, and promote the event.

The fifty plus members of the Rotary Club of Half Moon Bay donate time and money to support the under-served in the community and around the world. This year, the Rotary Club sponsored a fishing trip for 25 veterans through the Purple Heart Anglers. The Rotary Club of Half Moon Bay is one of 34,000 clubs around the world. The Half Moon Bay Club meets each Thursday for lunch at the Portuguese Center at 724 Kelly Street in downtown Half Moon Bay. http://www.rotaryofhalfmoonbay.com/

Contact Mary Corcoran, Public Relations Chairperson, at mcorcoranhmb@gmail.com or 650-218-0436.