More than 200 people enjoyed stage performances while buying t-shirts and colourful tiles while stuffing donation boxes to help the Ban Jing Jai orphanage raise more than 550,000 baht to help finish construction of its new facility.
Orphanage Chairman Rev. Surakit Kamonrat and Managing Director Piangta Choomnoi welcomed guests and donors to the Feb. 21 event at Ban Jing Jai’s new Nong Plalai property.
Children try out one of the unfinished new spacious bedrooms at the Baan Jing Jai Home.
Peter Malhotra volunteered to be MC for the day ensuring that some of the 75 children under the orphanage’s care performed on stage while children and guests were entertained by Variya, a charming severely vision impaired Russian accordionist, women of Naklua Church and a funny mime show from the Pattaya Career Foundation.
Kids were thrilled when out of the blue, Doc Penguino popped up on stage where he delighted the children and adults alike with his magical antics. Doc Penguino was on the way to the airport to catch a plane, but when Peter Malhotra told him about the event, he literally made a detour just to come and spend a little time with the kids. “We love you Doc Penguino”.
T-shirts selling for 500 baht each raised 19,000 baht.
Peter said, “Today is my birthday and what better way to spend it than by making merit and doing service for the benefit of the orphans.”
Food, drink, t-shirts and coloured tiles valued at 500, 1000, 5000 and 10,000 baht were on sale and donation boxes set up. At the end of the day, Ban Jing Jai was 686,420 closer to the estimated 26 million baht cost of the new facility. The foundation reckons that, after the fundraiser, there’s only 2.5 million baht more to go.
9,630 baht was raised from selling food and drinks.
The orphanage, founded in 1997, has outgrown the current three rented houses on Soi Nernplabwan. Built to accommodate no more than 50 people, the homes held 80 teenagers, children, infants and toddlers.
In March 2011, the orphanage reorganized into a charitable foundation and began plans to relocate to 4.3 rai of land off Highway 7 about a kilometer from the Regent’s School. There it’s constructing two, 1,350 sq. meter homes funded through donations and loans.
The imitable Doc Penquino was unstoppable. Jan Olav Aamlid thanks and honours him by presenting a tile for him to sign.
Each of the houses would be able to accommodate 40 children and teens, as well as 20 infants and toddlers. The designs, drawn up by a sponsoring architectural firm for free, call for nursing, music, art, and recreation rooms, a kitchen, administration office, playground, and garden.
Future stars from Baan Jing Jai perform a number for the crowd.
Major donors at the latest fundraiser included the Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya – 100,000 baht, Khun Sangsawat 100,000 baht, Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics (Laem Chabang) 42,000 baht, Wallenius Wilhelmsen Employees Oslo 64,000 baht, Colin Davis from Lewinski’s Pub 77,500 baht, New Nordic 20,000 baht, Tyrone Mitton and Magareta Westin 10,000, Lilly and Kjell Vasstveit 10,000, Friends of Vutikorn Kamolchote 10,000 baht, New Nordic v/ Kurt Svendheim 20,000 baht.
Other income came from the sales of ceramic tiles 65,100 baht, raffles 114,220 baht, T-shirts sales 19,000 baht, food and drinks 9,630 baht and donation boxes 14,370 baht. Another 10,600 baht came from anonymous donors making a grand total of 686,420 baht.
A volunteer from the Pattaya Career Foundation provides laughter with a comedy mime performance.
A lucky raffle prize winner.
Women of Naklua Church ‘Sputnik’ provide a musical interlude.
People could donate money by buying one or more tiles, with donations from 500 to 10,000 baht.
The child’s eyes are full of hope.
Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics (Lam Chabang) donates 42,000 baht.
President Vutikorn Kamolchote of the Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya donates 100,000 baht.
Colin Davis from Lewinski’s Pub donates 77,500 baht.
Piangta and Gudmund Eiksund conduct the raffles.
John Haerum’s donation is most appreciated.
Beautiful girls give a magical Thai dance performance.
Varia a charming Russian girl with severe visual impairment entertains the audience with their talented musical performance.
You got the moves baby!
Children from the foundation started with a song and suddenly turned around and sang happy birthday for Peter Malhotra bringing a wee teardrop to his eye.
The Kamolchote family, Sumonrat, Thida and Vutikorn who works very hard to make this dream a reality.
