KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Thanks to huge support from the Lake County community, Kelseyville’s Sunrise Rotary Club has been recognized for its contributions to Rotary’s “Polio Plus” effort.

The club’s annual “Denim and Diamonds” gala event, which was attended by 225 people this year, helped the club earn honors from North Coast Past District Governor Larry Myers for its efforts.

The North Coast District has raised $694,065 for International Rotary’s effort to eradicate polio from the face of the earth.

Naming the Kelseyville Sunrise Rotary club in both categories, Myers said, “I want to recognize our top clubs in terms of total ‘Polio Plus’ contributions and also per capita contributions.”

“Give yourselves a pat on the back. Great job,” Michelle Buell, outgoing president of Kelseyville Sunrise Rotary Club, told the club’s 21 members.

Polio Plus, launched by International Rotary in 1985, is close to eliminating the second human disease in history – after smallpox – with a 99.9-percent reduction in polio cases worldwide since the program began.

Polio eradication remains Rotary’s top priority. Currently, Rotary is working to raise $35 million per year through 2018 for polio eradication, which will be matched two to one by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Denim & Diamonds Committee Chair Kim Baldwin oversaw the countless details of producing Denim and Diamonds, which was held in June at Boatique Winery on Red Hills Road in Kelseyville.

The fundraiser included dinner and dancing. The keynote speaker for the night of the event was a childhood polio victim, Bob Rogers, who is the current North Coast District governor for Rotary.

Rogers gave a moving speech, inspiring attendees to raise their bid paddles for a total of $5,300 donated directly to Polio Plus. With the Gates Foundation match, Rotary Club of Kelseyville Sunrise contributed $10,600 to Polio Plus.

Among intriguing items offered for bid that evening were an airplane ride over Lake County provided by Tom Lincoln, a large yacht sail donated by the Braito’s, a two-night stay in Tuscan Villas and private dinner donated by Thorn Hill and an amazing custom ski donated by Bob Maher from Majerajah Water Skis, just to name a few.

Besides fighting diseases such as polio with 1.2 million humanitarian volunteers worldwide, Rotary clubs also focus their efforts in promoting peace, providing clean water, supporting education, growing economies, and saving mothers and children.

Incoming president for Kelseyville Sunrise Rotary, Linnea Humble, wishes to thank the Lake County community for its generosity in supporting the campaign to end polio and the club’s ongoing efforts to serve friends and neighbors of Lake County.