ANNAPOLIS, MD – The Rotary Club of Annapolis hosted the Sixth Annual Maria Maher Wine Tasting at the home of Rotarian Elaine and Jay Shanley on Sunday, October 22nd. The annual event is named in memory of Maria Maher, a beloved Rotarian, who helped establish the fundraiser several years ago, to support Rotary International’s global program Polio Plus.
“The Rotary Club of Annapolis established the Maria Maher event as an effort to raise funding and qualify for matching grants to help eliminate polio,” said Bob Reedy, president of the club. “We are proud of the continued success of this event. As well as raising funds for an important cause, attendees enjoy fellowship, great wine and food.”
The Annapolis Rotary club’s annual wine tasting supports Rotary International’s global program to eradicate polio from the world. Called Polio Plus, the program provides infrastructure and vaccines to combat the paralyzing and devastating, yet preventative, disease of polio. Fewer than ten new instances of polio have been detected this year, with cases confined to Pakistan and Afghanistan. In the 1980s, when Rotary International launched its polio eradication campaign, there were approximately 350,000 new cases reported each year. Polio is now 99.9% eradicated.
The Maria Maher Wine Tasting raised over $5,700 from sales, donations, and raffles this year. Funds raised by the Annapolis Rotary will be matched 2:1 by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for significant impact. Together, with matching funds, the Rotary Club of Annapolis has been able to contribute close to $100,000 to the Polio Plus program.
The Rotary Club of Annapolis would like to thank sponsors who supported the event, including Bay Ridge Wine and Spirits, the Annapolis Waterfront Hotel – Autograph Collection, Blackwell Hitch, Palate Pleasers, Main & Market, Saucy Salamander, Café Mezzaluna, and Rentals to Remember.
