January 3, 1938: The March of Dimes is Founded On this day in 1938, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt founded the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis (now known as the March of Dimes) to fund polio treatment and research. In the mid-twentieth century, the March of Dimes Foundation pioneered a new approach to philanthropy, raising money a dime at a time from millions of small donors.The nonprofit enlisted poster children, celebrities, presidents, and other partners in their high-profile campaigns.Follow the quest to fight polio with American Experience’s “Polio Crusade” photo gallery.Photo: Barbara Councilor of the White House mail room pours out and dips her hands in dimes, 1939 (Library of Congress).
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January 3, 1938: The March of Dimes is Founded

On this day in 1938, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt founded the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis (now known as the March of Dimes) to fund polio treatment and research. In the mid-twentieth century, the March of Dimes Foundation pioneered a new approach to philanthropy, raising money a dime at a time from millions of small donors.

The nonprofit enlisted poster children, celebrities, presidents, and other partners in their high-profile campaigns.

Follow the quest to fight polio with American Experience’s “Polio Crusade” photo gallery.

Photo: Barbara Councilor of the White House mail room pours out and dips her hands in dimes, 1939 (Library of Congress).

Source: to.pbs.org

August 26, 1906:  Birth of Polio Scientist Albert Sabin On this day in 1906, Albert Sabin, best known for his development of an oral polio vaccine, was born in Poland.  He attended medical school at New York University in 1931 and went on to work with other notable scientists like Jonas Salk to find a cure for polio. The mid-20th century polio epidemic revolutionized medical philanthropy with the creation of the March of Dimes, an effort to raise money one dime at a time from millions of small donors.  Cultural icons like Marilyn Monroe, Johnny Cash, and Grace Kelly joined together to support the March of Dimes, which was founded by the polio-infected Franklin D. Roosevelt. Check out this American Experience photo gallery of the major figures and events of “The Polio Crusade.” Photo: National Endowment for the Humanities
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August 26, 1906:  Birth of Polio Scientist Albert Sabin

On this day in 1906, Albert Sabin, best known for his development of an oral polio vaccine, was born in Poland.  He attended medical school at New York University in 1931 and went on to work with other notable scientists like Jonas Salk to find a cure for polio.

The mid-20th century polio epidemic revolutionized medical philanthropy with the creation of the March of Dimes, an effort to raise money one dime at a time from millions of small donors.  Cultural icons like Marilyn Monroe, Johnny Cash, and Grace Kelly joined together to support the March of Dimes, which was founded by the polio-infected Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Check out this American Experience photo gallery of the major figures and events of “The Polio Crusade.”


Photo: National Endowment for the Humanities

Source: to.pbs.org

FEBRUARY 23, 1954: MASS POLIO INOCULATION FOR CHILDREN BEGINS On this day in 1954, the first mass vaccination of children began in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In the mid-twentieth century, the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis (the predecessor to today’s March of Dimes) pioneered a new approach to philanthropy, raising money a dime at a time from millions of small donors. The nonprofit enlisted poster children, celebrities, presidents, and other partners in their high-profile campaigns. Seen here, March of Dimes poster child Linda Brown in a 1949 ad campaign. Flip through American Experience’s photo gallery for more on the polio crusade. Photo Credit: March of Dimes Foundation
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FEBRUARY 23, 1954:

MASS POLIO INOCULATION FOR CHILDREN BEGINS

On this day in 1954, the first mass vaccination of children began in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

In the mid-twentieth century, the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis (the predecessor to today’s March of Dimes) pioneered a new approach to philanthropy, raising money a dime at a time from millions of small donors.

The nonprofit enlisted poster children, celebrities, presidents, and other partners in their high-profile campaigns.

Seen here, March of Dimes poster child Linda Brown in a 1949 ad campaign. Flip through American Experience’s photo gallery for more on the polio crusade.

Photo Credit: March of Dimes Foundation

Source: pbs.org

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