Yes, it is that time again for the Jesters and our
associates to knuckle down and start organizing the fifth annual Jesters
‘Care for Kids’ Charity Drive in earnest.
Following last year’s most successful drive ever,
when we raised 2.76 million baht for the Fountain of Life Children’s
Center, we realized that our work was to be cut out for us this year. For
starters, some of our organizational personnel have moved on, such as the
Poulsens, Alice and Niel, who were an integral part of the Charity Drive
since its inception in 1998. The donation box at the Tesco Lotus store on
Sukumvit, designated for the Fountain of Life Center for the last two
years and responsible for augmenting the charity coffers by 200,000 baht
each annum, has now been earmarked for new beneficiaries, as per head
office policy. Furthermore, the fragile economic environment still remains
a factor working against raising money, in a region where there are many
charities seeking benefactors as well.
Tons
of fun at last year’s Jesters Care 4 Kids Charity Children’s Day.
However, momentum works in our favor, along with the
Jesters charitable reputation. Proof of which has been the attraction of
four Platinum Sponsors already this year, including Shenanigan’s, Pattaya
Mail, Chonburi Siam Steel Mill Services and Rieckermann Thai
Engineering. We also have Graham Macdonald, chairman of the British
Chamber of Commerce for the Eastern Seaboard back onboard the organizing
committee this year.
In addition, we will employ a new concept this year
with the assistance of PMCI to be referred to as ‘Pledge for Kids’.
The latter is designed to attract potential donors who would rather not
give a lump sum but, instead, a more modest sum on a monthly basis over a
12-month period. The launch date for the pledge is set for June.
The Jesters ‘Care for Kids’ organizing committee,
specifically web expert Susie Ngamsuwan, has also produced a CD of our Web
Site, including a history of the Charity Drive and photo galleries, which
is being used for promotional purposes and attracting new sponsors. Our
latest corporate letter soliciting sponsorship has also just been
finalized and is ready for distribution both by email and snail mail. And,
we have put up a new commercial site this year, www.care4kids.info thanks
to the graces of GeckoTech, systems engineers, in Pattaya.
In addition to the Fountain of Life Children’s
Center, the Jesters ‘Care for Kids’ Charity Drive this year has added
two new beneficiaries, the Eastern Child Welfare Protection Institute (Huay
Pong, Rayong) and the Pattaya Redemptorist School for the Blind (Naklua).
The latter has just benefited from the first event of this year’s
Charity Drive, Paul Baker’s Farewell Tour, which was a special sponsored
pushbike ride from Ubon to Pattaya. The four cyclists, Paul, Richy, John
and Ian, who rode the 700 kms in 6 days, have raised over 200,000 baht for
this school benefiting blind and mentally impaired children.
Additionally, Declan, Pop’s All-Stars, and Rick and
Harpic have recorded a 3-set CD titled “Play Something You Know”,
which is currently available at Shenanigan’s and Tahitian Queen for 350
baht. All profits will go directly to the Jesters Care for Kids Charity
Drive 2002.
This year’s experienced organizing committee with
assigned duties, who can be contacted through the new site, looks like
this:
Graham Macdonald – Corporate sponsorship, airline
prizes, liaison with PMCI
Kevin Mitch - Fair organization, including all
logistics and stalls
Kim Fletcher - Fair day sponsored Bike Ride and Pub
Night
Mike Franklin - PR, advertising and Children’s Raffle
Brendan Richards - Posters, raffle tickets, liaison
with Pattaya Mail
Paul Dobbs - Huay Pong liaison and transport
Phil Macdonald, David Smith (PMCI) - Pledge for Kids
Susie Ngamsuwan - Web Site
Neil Sandilands - Beer tent and organizing donated beer
Bill Freeman, Jeff Paladeau - Ad Hoc directors
Lewis Underwood – Chairman, overall co-ordination and
liaison
The following is a list of those that have been helping
us whose links are currently on our Web Site: Bangkok Pattaya Hospital, BJ
Services Company, British Chamber of Commerce, Cafe New Orleans, Castrol
(now AsPac Oil (Thailand) Ltd.), Chonburi Steel Mill Services, Diana
Group, Dusit Resort, Eastern Star Golf Resort, Farang, Flow, Garden
International School, GeckoTech, Global Silverhawk/Santa Fe, Horseshoe
Point, International School of the Regents, Jesters, JVK Movers, Lauda
Air, Lawn Bowling, MBMG International, Mermaid Dive School, Odyssey
International, Orkide Norway Travel, Patrick’s Belgium Restaurant,
Pattaya Hash House Harriers, Pattaya Mail, Pattaya Panthers,
Pattaya Sports Club, Qantas Air, Rieckermann, Ripley’s, Royal Cliff
Beach Resort, Royal Garden Resort, Santa Fe Eastern Seaboard Thailand,
Sauber F1, Scandi Bar, Shenanigans, Siam Bayshore Resort, Siam Steel Mill
Services, Spicy Girls, St. Andrew’s International School, Stephen
Leather, Tahitian Queen (1), The Residence Garden, Unithai Group, Unity
Services Group, and West Host.
If you are currently a sponsor of our Charity Drive and
would like a link to our Website, please contact us. Additionally, if you
would like to help out this year or find out more about the Jesters Care
for Kids Charity Drive 2002, please visit our site: www.care4kids.info
