Mike Franklin
(No its not typo, I have taken one of Mike’s press
releases written just before Fair Day 10 years ago, when we first came to
the Diana Garden Resort. I have simply changed the numbers and names make it
relevant today. Otherwise the words are Mike’s. BTW back in 2002, when this
was written we had 3 beneficiaries, 7 Platinums and 50 stalls. This time of
year, more than ever, we miss Mike. LWU)
OMG! The Jesters Fair is here
again!
The Jester’s ‘Care for Kids’ Charity Drive, now in it’s
14th year, amounts to a well-organized program of support, activities and
events that singularly set out to raise money to help the underprivileged
children in the area through 8 deserving and hard working charities. Namely,
Fountain of Life Children’s Center caring for slum kids and giving them
educational opportunities; Next Step Program for scholarships all the way to
university or vocational college; Pattaya Redemptorist School for the Blind;
Ban Jing Jai Orphanage; Khao Baisri School for the Disabled; Camillian Home
for kids living with HIV and disabilities; Special Olympics Thailand; Sam’s
Rice Distribution for families with disabled kids; and dozens of public
schools provided with new buildings or renovation of pre-existing ones, as
well as drinking water systems and toilets.
Major Sponsors, 2 Diamond Sponsors (400,000 baht),
namely, Glencore International and the Canadian Jackalope Open, and 20
Platinum Sponsors (100,000 baht) that top the ever-growing list of companies
and individuals donating to the 2011 Charity Drive. A complete list of
‘all-category’ gold, silver, bronze and pledge sponsors will appear in a
special Pattaya Mail feature imminently.
For the moment we acknowledge the following organizations
and thank them for their platinum level support: Club Nevada, Dave James,
Glencore International x 2 (Indonesia), The Herrod Foundation (Switzerland),
Hyolim (S. Korea), Jelly Belly Candy Company, Jameson’s Irish Pub, The
Links, Lolita’s Pattaya, MBMG Group, Mermaid Offshore Services, Mike
Koerner, Pat and Reg Warner, Pattaya Bay Resort, Pattaya Mail, Pattaya
Sports Club, Sinto, Whitehouse Condotel and World of Wine.
Central to the Jester’s Charity Drive is the events and
activities. Sunday September 11th is the date for the Children’s Fair, this
year at the ideally located Diana Garden Resort & Driving Range, North
Pattaya.
The focal point at the Fair will be the Stage with live
bands playing throughout the day, and an entertainment program by children,
teens and adults.
Horseshoe Point will be there with pony rides, a superb
marching band from one of the local schools, Pop’s Cool Zone for budding
musicians, bouncy castle, the adventurous Climbing Wall courtesy of
Geckotech/Clough, carnival rides and games, field games and the kids
Tug-O-War.
Over 80 stalls will offer a huge variety of goods,
including the famous second-hand Bookshop, the PILC White Elephant rummage
sales, all kinds of school stalls with games and activities and
international food and sweets.
‘Mikey’ the giant Biker Bear will sit pride of place at
the Children’s Raffle stall waiting for a new home to go to, surrounded by
the many valuable prizes to be won in this year’s Pattaya Sports Club
Children’s Raffle.
Then there is the Beer Tent run by the Jesters. All the
beer is donated and you too can help by donating a case (cost B.850) knowing
that the beer will be sold in the Beer Garden at B.1200 with the B.350
profit going directly to the children. This is the place to relax, have a
cold one and watch the stage show. We will personally thank you on the day
and publish your name in Pattaya Mail.
From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. it promises to be an entertaining
and fun day for the family. And when we’ve done all that, where does the
money go? It all goes to help those children at the projects listed above.
So, with your support, it all adds up to a very
worthwhile Jester’s ‘Care for Kids’ Charity Drive for 2011.
