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Hernando County Rotary clubs join together to fight polio

By Logan Neill, Times Staff Writer
In print: Friday, October 3, 2008

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SPRING HILL — In order to help eradicate one of the world's most devastating diseases, Hernando County's three Rotary Clubs are banding together.

At 2 p.m. Sunday, the clubs will present "Music For Life,'' a concert featuring several notable Hernando musicians and singers at Nativity Lutheran Church in Weeki Wachee.

The Rotarians are hoping to raise $3,000 to go toward Rotary International's PolioPlus program, a global immunization initiative being supported by a $100-million challenge grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to assist the World Health Organization's work in under-developed countries.

"We think it's a wonderful cause to support," said Carol McElroy, a member of the Spring Hill Rotary Club, who is helping to coordinate the event.

McElroy said that her organization is collaborating with the Spring Hill Central Rotary and Brooksville Rotary Club in order to add more punch to the overall effort.

"Each club has committed to raising $1,000 (for PolioPlus), and we thought if we could combine our work, it would be that much more effective," McElroy said.

The clubs' goal is to attract 300 patrons to the classical music concert, which will feature local soprano Stephanie Barnett Sager.

Sager, a 1992 Hernando High School graduate, studied voice at Florida State University and earned her master's degree in performance at the Manhattan School of Music. She has been an apprentice with Des Moines Metro Opera and Lake George Opera.

In June, she played the role of Donna Anna in the St. Petersburg Opera's production of Don Giovanni.

Also performing will be Sarah Coit, a recent graduate of Central High School, who is attending the University of South Florida. A familiar performer in the Hernando County theater scene, Coit has starred in several productions at Stage West Community Playhouse. She earned a HAMI award this summer for her role as Guenevere in Stage West's production of Camelot.

Logan Neill can be reached at lneill@sptimes.com or 848-1435.