Now in its sixth year, the 2003 Jesters ‘Care for
Kids’ Charity Drive is looking to top the record sum of 3.3 million baht
raised in 2002.
Little
Samantha shows off this year’s ‘Care for Kids’ ‘T’ Shirt available
from July 12th at B.300, or two for B.500.
“Daddy”
Mike points out that the ten Platinum sponsors are featured on the back of
the T-shirt and there is a blank space as an invitation to another Platinum
Sponsor to join.
With an enlarged and strengthened committee of volunteer
professionals, coordinated by Chairman Lewis Underwood, the 2003 Charity
Drive is already well under way.
Ten Platinum sponsors have guaranteed the first million,
thanks to Baltex Industries, Foster Wheeler, Kvaerner E & C, MBMG
International, Nirvana Resort (Koh Chang), Pattaya Mail, Sailor Inn,
Shenanigans, Southeast Asia Control and Automation Systems, and Rieckermann
Thai Engineering.
Laem Chabang International Terminal has come in as a
50,000 baht Gold sponsor to join Garden International School, Coats and BHP
Steel in that category.
Garden International School, Banchang Rayong, was quick
to follow Coats and BHP Steel as a 50,000 baht Gold sponsor, the donation
generated by an enterprising student business project.
ISE and ISR students have also been quick to raise 10,000
baht to qualify as a Bronze sponsors, and they join Joe Otter, Chris Kayser,
SSL, Haugland Foundation, Joe & William Connelly, Norm Aylward and John
Prince in that category. Silver sponsors to date are Bayer Thai, Pattaya
Nash Hash Committee, Chan Bistro, Clayton Engineering (Thailand) and GLOW
Group.
The year round Pledge for Kids campaign, open to
companies and individuals wanting to donate but not wishing to go to the
corporate level, continues successfully with the first million baht pledged
‘on target’ by the end of June.
The Jesters ‘Care for Kids’ Charity Drive manifests
itself through two major events. The Children’s Fair and Charity Bike Ride
on Sunday 14th September and, six days later, the Jesters Pub Night on
Saturday 20th September. For the first four years, 1998-2001, the
Children’s Fair was sited at a different location each year. However, in
2002 the ideal venue was found at the Diana Garden Resort & Driving
Range and, thanks to the promotional partnership with the Diana Group and
the cooperation and support of Diana Group management, the Children’s Fair
is back there this year.
The experience gained in 2002 has initiated a number of
improvements to the organization and layout of the fair that will ensure an
even bigger and better event. An expanded stage to feature all the
entertainment; more shade around the many stalls; more featured activities
for the children with a Children’s Play Center adjacent to the Beer Garden
to benefit both children and parents. The luxurious Diana Garden Resort is
offering charity packages for a one or two night stay to enable out of town
visitors to be on hand for the Children’s Fair.
Company contributors play a significant role in helping
to make the Children’s Fair a success by donating products and services.
Already we have the support of Nestle (ice cream) and BT Insurance (water)
with promises from many more. Cases of beer for the Beer Garden are donated
by individuals, with all of the sale proceeds adding to the charity fund.
The popular Children’s Raffle will again feature a
giant bear and, from the shortlist of applicants, it looks like ‘Biffo’
will be the star this year. Many spectacular prizes will be on offer,
sponsored by Pattaya Sports Club, and the Jesters are donating a Sony Play
Station II. Lego Denmark has kindly donated some large boxes of assorted
Lego to add to the prize list.
The Charity Bike Ride kicks off Fair Day - adult rides
only this year, for safety reasons, with the choice of a 25 or 50 K ride.
Bangkok Pattaya Hospital Ambulance Unit will be alongside, and afterwards be
on station at the fair. Free blood pressure tests available as usual.
Shenanigans landlord, Kim Fletcher, organizes the bike ride and plans the
route. However, his enthusiasm for early planning has been somewhat thwarted
this year by the proliferation of road works around the city, both in
progress and planned, so the route will not be announced until shortly
before the fair.
However, alternative route options have been worked out
and sit in Kim’s pending tray awaiting a decision.
Another of our regular promotional partners is Baltex
Industries who generously donate the stylish Bike Ride shirts. Baltex also
produce the popular ‘Care for Kids’ ‘T’ Shirt, which is updated each
year. An early production run of this year’s shirt is now available, and
features children’s face paintings on the front and the ten Platinum
sponsors on the back - with a blank space as an invitation to another
Platinum Sponsor to join. Same bargain price as last year, B.300 each or two
for B.500.
The second major event is the Jesters Pub Night on
Saturday 20th September, hosted by ‘Care for Kids’ promotional partner,
Shenanigans.
And what a party night that is! The best of Shenanigans
live music with the focus of the evening being the Grand Raffle and Auction.
Tickets for the Grand Raffle will be on sale much earlier
this year with a special incentive to ‘early bird’ buyers. A wonderful
range of prizes is coming together including international airline tickets
from BA/Qantas and domestic travel from DCT Travel, with resort
accommodation and much more.
Our professional auctioneer, Eddie Henheffer, hopes to be
in Thailand to do the business on the night calling the lots. That alone is
entertainment worth coming for. The items for auction are coming in,
including a Manchester United ‘7’ shirt signed by David Beckham. That in
itself is good enough, but how about a pair of signed balls as well!
Best selling author Stephen Leather has signed an
unpublished manuscript of ‘Private Dancer’, and we have signed F.1 Car
& Driver photos and the framed Schumi Sisters again. If a regular
visitor to the Children’s Fair, you might want to bid for the 160-photo
compilation album that photographer Howard Greene has kindly put together
from his work at previous fairs.
Our fourth promotional partner is Pattaya Mail,
providing the valuable facility of press and television coverage from May
right up to the Children’s Fair and Pub Night in September. Their studio
facilities have also produced the one item of display material available
this year - the Jesters ‘Care for Kids’ bumper sticker, suitable for any
display point. Just call at Shenanigans and pick up one, or even several to
give to friends. Next month the ‘Mystery Spotters’ are out and about
giving away prizes. All you have to do is display the sticker and give the
‘Care for Kids’ spotter the chance to say ‘thank you’.
Finally, when all is said and done, where is the money
going? Firstly, to help the underprivileged children who attend the Fountain
of Life Center have a start in life and some education and, for those who
have ID, a chance to receive a scholarship to go to a government school.
Fifty-four scholarships have already been given this year with the next
group almost ready to qualify. Secondly, to provide badly needed equipment
for children at the Redemptorist School for the Blind in Naklua. Thirdly, to
re-build the school at the Child Welfare & Protection Institute, Huay
Pong.
Work started in June and that will be the subject of the
next Pattaya Mail press report and TV link later this month.
To find out more about the Jesters ‘Care for Kids’ Charity Drive,
past and present, take a moment to go to Susie’s web page at
www.care4kids.info or contact us by e-mail at [email protected]
| July
1, 2003
This year the Jesters Children’s Fair will be
held on Sunday, September 14 th,
once again at the Diana Garden Resort and Driving Range off Pattaya
North Road on the parallel soi between Soi Yume and Pattaya 3 Road,
behind the “World’s Largest Gem Store”. Fair times will be from
10 AM to 6 PM. There will be a stallholders’ briefing on Monday,
September 8th at
Shenanigan’s at 7 PM.
General stall information and application form:
Miscellaneous Stalls: 1000 Baht
Food Stalls: 2000 Baht
Schools: Free
Each Stall will include:
One 4 X 4 meter Tent
Two 1.75 X 0.5 meter Tables
Two Chairs
One Electrical Outlet
Note: Garbage cans will NOT be provided for
each stall. One large plastic bag will be provided and as well as
trash collection.
Please fill out the form below to ensure that you
get one of these stalls. Alternatively, you can also sign up online at
www.care4kids.info/2003/03stall_contract.htm.
Stallholder:
________________________________________
Phone number:
________________________________________
________________________________________
Web Site:
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
Donation received by:
________________________________________
Date:______/_________/_____
Sincerely yours,
Kevin Mitch
Fair Site Coodinator |
