GREENWICH, CT–(Marketwired – Oct 20, 2015) – Following a major global health milestone last month, Spencer Trask & Co. today announced its sponsorship of the 2015 World Polio Day event being hosted by Rotary and UNICEF. The live streaming event takes place on October 23 in New York City online at 6:30 PM EDT. Guests will include Global Polio Eradication Initiative partners, celebrity ambassadors, polio survivors, and others. The official World Polio Day, established by Rotary International, is October 24.

In addition to sponsoring the global Rotary event, Spencer Trask & Co. chairman, Kevin Kimberlin, is hosting a local gathering in Connecticut on October 22 to honor polio vaccine pioneer Jonas Salk, whose groundbreaking work saved the lives of untold millions. Author Charlotte Jacobs, MD will speak about her just-released biography on Salk, “Jonas Salk: A Life.” In addition, a recently released 32-minute documentary film about Salk and his polio vaccine, “The Shot Felt ‘Round the World” will be screened.

“Thanks to the Salk polio vaccine, the demise of one of history’s most feared diseases is imminent,” said Kimberlin. “Dr. Salk had a profound impact on me. More importantly, his story provides us all of us with a blueprint for how humanity can work together to solve other major problems in the future.”

In September, the World Health Organization declared Africa’s last polio-endemic country, Nigeria, polio-free, leaving only two countries which have never stopped the virus: Pakistan and Afghanistan. In 1988, when Rotary and its partners committed to eradicating the disease, polio paralyzed more than 350,000 children per year in 125 countries — or, more than 1,000 per day. Since that time, the number of polio cases has been reduced by 99.9%, with less than 50 cases in two countries to date in 2015.

Rotary has contributed more than US$1.4 billion to ending polio. Funds contributed to Rotary are tripled thanks to a 2:1 match by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

About Rotary
Rotary brings together a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges. Rotary connects 1.2 million members of more than 34,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas. Their work improves lives at both the local and international levels, from helping families in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world. Visit rotary.org and endpolio.org for more about Rotary and its efforts to eradicate polio. Video and still images will be available on the NewsMarket.

About Spencer Trask & Company
Spencer Trask & Co. is a privately held advanced technology development company. The firm works with entrepreneurs, CEOs, corporate partners, venture firms and high net worth individuals to start and grow high impact ventures. Spencer Trask & Co. has been instrumental in the formative stage of companies that pioneered many technological and scientific advancements in the field of genomics, the transformation of healthcare, the Internet and open innovation.

CONTACT:

Jamie Dunne for Spencer Trask & Co.

917.727.0795