Pints For Polio
In 2016, when John Scott was a Rotary District Governor he presented the idea for a fundraiser to his home club, The Greater Big Spring Rotary Club. It was Pints for Polio where people pay a fee to sample beers. “The club thought it might be too big an undertaking for a club of 40 members,” says John. “But two members, Brent Strande and Barney Dodds, thought it was a good idea so they ran with it.”
The club rented an event center downtown and set up tables where people sampled different types of beer in two ounce cups. The entry fee was $25 and those attending were given pint-sized glasses and three tickets, each good for a pint of beer. They had advertised the event and it seemed to take hold. The downtown area was undergoing revitalization and the citizens felt they wanted to support it. The first event drew 250 people and raised $10,000. “We thought we could never beat that,” says John. “But it took hold as an annual event that has grown every year and residents look forward to it. The last PFP raised $45.000 and drew a crowd of 700.”
This year will be the 6th year for Pints For Polio in Big Spring and to date it has raised $100,000. Half the money goes to Rotary’s program of polio eradication worldwide and half goes to local projects that include giving bicycles to students in all elementary schools in the county who have perfect attendance. Another club activity is giving money to teachers who develop programs worthy of a financial boost. Still others are town cleanups and putting reflective tape on fire hydrants so firemen can find them at night.
The entry fee for this year’s PFP is $50. The date is March 25. John says it takes about 60 people to put it on. “We get help from the other Rotary Club in town. It takes a lot of organizing and planning. We write down how we could make the event better each year. We have made a video to show other clubs how to hold a pints project. It’s on our club’s Facebook page. Some clubs in the district have started PFP and our event draws Rotarians and others from throughout the state.”
John says some people prefer wine, so wine is offered along with the beer. Wine is served in wine glasses. “Much of the wine and beer is donated,” says John. “Some well known wineries on the South Plains donate and beer distributers give us cases of beer they are wanting to promote. We also buy wine and beer. Of course we have soft drinks and water, too.”
John and Brent Strande are quite interested in alcohol. John enjoys fine whiskey and is trying to get a brewery started in Big Spring. Some of his beer is in kegs at the event. Brent has a place called The Train Car in downtown Big Spring. It has a full bar and a selection of cigars in the smoking room. Yep, it’s in a train car.
John figures the proceeds from his club’s PFP has saved the lives of about a million kids. Not bad for a small club in a town of 30,000 people.