Friday night football for high schools is always exciting, but when rivals Bullhead City’s Mohave High and Lake Havasu High clash for their annual Golden Shovel Game, truly amazing things happen, as thousands of dollars are raised for Rotary’s Polio Eradication efforts. For the past two years the Interact Clubs of these two high schools, who have both sponsored Purple Pinkie Days to raise funds for PolioPlus, have challenged each other to a “Battle of the Pinkies,” to see which club can raise the most money for Polio Eradication during the one week prior to their Golden Shovel Game — up until half-time of that annual football rivalry. This year a large trophy was created, to be awarded to the winning Interact club, to keep and display at their school until the next year’s game.
Last year, the combined total raised was just over $2,000, with the bragging rights going to the Lake Havasu High School Interact Club. However, this year, the tables were turned. Mohave High Interact raised $1,221.60, with LHHS Interact coming up with $945.48 — for a total of $2,167.08. When those funds reach The Rotary Foundation, they will be matched 2-to-1 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Consequently, the combined efforts of two Interact clubs effectively contributed $6,501.24 for Polio Eradication.
Asked how her club managed to raise so much through their Purple Pinkie efforts, MHS Interact President Maddisyn Myers explained they had a Purple Pinkie promotion set up each day at noon in the school’s cafeteria, plus four nights this year during the week at different restaurants in the community.
Congratulations to these two Interact Clubs for leading the way for other Interact, Rotaract and Rotary Clubs in the district to follow their creative example in finding ways to help End Polio Now!