Altimira’s purple pinkies raise money for polio
Purple pinkies were all the rage at Altimira Middle School last Friday. Inspired by Rotary of Sonoma Valley and led by Principal Will Deeths, students put together a fundraiser for polio raising $852in just three days.
The “Purple Pinkie Day” event actually ran the entire week and students were encouraged to wear purple in all its forms. Deeths said he’d never seen such a sea of purple with students donning shirts, hats, sneakers, glasses and more in the plum-y hue.
“In countries where kids get inoculated for polio, they dip their fingers in purple dye to identify who’s received a shot and who hasn’t,” said Deeths, explaining the significance of the purple pinkies.
Wednesday began the actual fundraising with students passing around collection jars, filling them with change at lunch hours and during breaks. Friday was popcorn sales day and for every bag a student bought for $1, they got their pinkie dyed purple.
The school sold out of popcorn – 110 bags – which had been donated by the student leadership class. Toward the end, said Deeths, students were donating money just to get their pinkies dyed.
“The entire week was just amazing,” said Deeths. “I’m so proud of these students. They have demonstrated an understanding of a bigger world out there. The bulk of our donations were in quarters, nickels and dimes and it shows that these kids realize what a big difference they can make. For me, it was truly a career high.”
