ELVIS AND HIS GENEROSITY

HIS CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION TO “MARCH OF DIMES”.

On Wednesday, January 8, 1958, Elvis celebrated his birthday party at Graceland. It was his 23rd birthday. That same day Elvis had a date with Maria Kosloski. Maria was the little girl who appeared on the national poster that was made for the March of Dimes charity in 1955.

The little girl was 8 years old at the time and Elvis was photographed at his Graceland home with her , for charity.

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The little girl had to wait 2 hours for Elvis to receive her, but the little girl seemed to forgive the wait when Elvis appeared and affectionately told her: ”If you were 10 years older, honey, I wouldn’t let you go”.

Elvis and the little girl were photographed surrounded by teddy bears and pandas, which Elvis was sending to the “National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis“, better known as the “March of Dimes” to be auctioned off during an upcoming fundraising campaign.

For 80 years, the March of Dimes has helped millions of children survive. Now they continue to build on that legacy, helping all mothers and children, regardless of age, background or socioeconomic status.

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What began with President Franklin D. Roosevelt‘s personal struggle with polio, who had been left wheelchair-bound by the disease, led to the creation of the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, better known as the March of Dimes. They pioneered vaccine research that led to the eradication of polio in the US.

Elvis always extended his hand to help this organization and contribute to the welfare of all those children and their families. He also helped polio vaccination skyrocket in the United States.

On October 28, 1956, before the beginning of his performance on the Ed Sullivan Show, and in front of the press and Ed Sullivan himself, Elvis rolled up his shirt sleeve and smilingly let a New York State official stick a needle in his arm with the polio vaccine, before the attentive eyes of millions of Americans who watched on their televisions as their idol had just been injected with the vaccine. After he was publicly vaccinated, vaccination rates among young Americans skyrocketed to 80% after only six months.

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Elvis always collaborated and actively supported this charity.

Elvis made countless charitable contributions and donations throughout his life. The list of charities, hospitals…and humanitarian initiatives to which he assiduously contributed is endless.