2005 - Even better again with 5.4 million baht
YOUR GENEROUS DONATIONS AT WORK FOR THE KIDS:

A look back at what was done with the funds raised for the Jesters ‘Care for Kids’ Charity Drive 2005

Due to your generous donations last year, the Jesters Care for Kids Charity Drive 2005  was able to raise 5.4 million baht in both cash and kind for needy children’s charities and we would like to thank you sincerely once again for your part in achieving this wonderful result. To date over 5 million baht has been distributed to our beneficiaries.

Without YOUR HELP we could not have assisted the following needy children institutions in both the Eastern Seaboard and the tsunami affected south so significantly.

The Rayong Shelter: (442,000 baht)

The above total, plus another 270, 000 baht from Jesters Care for Kids 2004, went toward the construction of a safe haven for abused kids, battered women and young, unwed mothers in Huay Pong, which was a joint project with the Pattaya International Ladies Club (PILC) and the Pattaya Sports Club (PSC) in Huay Pong, Rayong.

The Rayong Training Center: ( 353,000 baht)

The above is a juvenile rehabilitation center in which we supplied a new roof for one of the dormitory buildings, provided drinking water filter system and maintenance of the organic gardening project during the past year

Happiness Camp: (89,000 baht)

We sponsored one of the organization’s teacher/student encounter sessions focusing on learning, communication skills, creativity and acquiring self-confidence for govt school students from Koh Larn during their 3-day, 2-night residence at Nong Nooch village.

Khao Baisri School near Sattahip (433,217 baht)

The above is a school for autistic and mentally impaired children, where we provided funding for a school building renovation and new toilet construction, as well as the provision for new tables and chairs and the purchase of safe playground equipment.

Chonburi Shelter in Banglamung: (180,000 baht)

We provided the above amount to cover half of the construction of a new canteen in a joint venture with PILC for this safe haven. (Note: PSC funded the construction for a new building (shelter) to accompany a pre-existing structure.

The Next Step Program: ( 365,800 baht)

The above is our special scholarship provision program for young adults and children to continue their education at all levels including college. Currently, we are sponsoring Em, a young mechanic with a desire to become an engineer, at a technical college outside Bangkok; 12 orphans from Choon Chee Boarding School in Ban Bung; and 36 government school students, who are excelling in their studies despite austere living conditions.

Pattaya Redemptorist School for the Blind in Naklua: (181,000)

The above, a boarding school for blind and mentally impaired children and young adults, is a perennial beneficiary of ours. Over the past year our support went mostly to building repair.

Mercy Center Children’s Center in Pattaya: (70,000 baht)

The above is yet another shelter mostly for very young children off the streets. We recently purchased metal bunk beds, mattresses, bedding materials, tables and chairs, including booster seats for the smaller ones.

The Fountain of Life Center for Children in North Pattaya: (2,254,360.40 baht)

We continue to cover the majority of the operational expenses for our target charity the Fountain of Life Center which provides documentation, education, scholarships, medical and dental treatment and care for slum kids from broken families.

Eastern Child Protection Institute in Huay Pong (41,000 baht)

The above provides education, vocational training and boarding for abandoned and wayward children. Last year we bought tables and chairs for them.

The South: (430,900 baht)

Our involvement in children’s charities went beyond the Eastern Seaboard last year after the devastating tsunami in the south. We contributed the above total from last year, as well as another 271,450 from and the previous year, 2004. We have been involved from the initial stages of relief, including the provision of temporary shelter, as well as long term aid in the following locales: Takua Pah, Thap Lamu School,  Khao Lak, Sangka Ou School (Koh Lanta) and a day care center for displaced children from Koh Phi Phi in Krabi.

Blue bus restoration: (60,000 baht)

The above was for a recent complete makeover to restore the blue bus, or daily work horse that transports the kids to and from the Fountain of Life Center that we donated to them during our inaugural charity drive in 1998.

Ban Jing Jai: (earmarked 185,000 baht)

The above, a small orphanage in Nong Prue that presently accommodates 54 children and now having secured permission from the landlady, will initiate an extensive repair and renovation project for the 3 houses they now inhabit.

Miscellaneous: Over the past year we have also contributed 28,720 baht to Ban Jing Jai and Pattaya School #3, as well as our event shirts gratis.

The Jesters Care for Kids Charity Drive 2006 will focus on the Ban Jing Jai project mentioned above, and we are also looking at the Plouk Daeng Hospital, a drug treatment and rehabilitation center for juveniles, and the Camillian Center’s Independent Living Project for teenage orphans living with HIV/AIDS. We also hope to find land in Ban Chang this year, so we can initiate our Baan Sai Jai housing project for elderly people looking after their grandchildren whose parents have died of AIDS.

All the while we will still be maintaining most of our support for our present beneficiaries mentioned above, as we believe in sustainability and seeing our ventures through to fruition.

Jesters Children’s Fair
- Can it ever be better?

Friends and fun - what could be better? This year’s Jesters Care For Kids Children’s Fair was once again bigger and better than ever. The action packed day began at 10 a.m. and didn’t let up until 6 p.m., as hundreds of kids, young and old, enjoyed the best day of the year, and all in the name of charity. 
Jesters Children’s Fair – Can It Ever Be Better?
Mike Franklin

The Jesters Children’s Fair gets bigger and better every year. Some heavy overnight rain had softened things up a bit at the Diana Driving Range, but not to the extent that vehicles could not get to their stalls to set up for the day. A couple of brief drizzles during the day were all it came to and, apart from the humidity, the weather was perfect. So there was nothing to deter the enthusiasm of the organizers, the eighty stallholders, the performers entertaining throughout the day, and the many, many fairgoers that came by.

Pratheep ‘Peter’ Malhotra, Graham Macdonald, Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh, Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn, Lewis ‘Woody’ Underwood, Soppin Thappajug and Jintana Wechchot at the ribbon cutting ceremony.

Jester Kevin set it all up at the Diana Garden Resort & Driving Range for the fourth consecutive year, a venue that provides the best facilities one could ever hope for to stage a major event such as this. He planned the best layout yet, skillfully designed to welcome fairgoers and make it easy for them to shop the stalls, relax in the shaded areas, enjoy the activities, demonstrations and stage performances and hear everything, thanks to Rick Bryant arranging the live music. In large numbers they came throughout the day, many staying for the duration as there was always something for everyone in the family to enjoy.
The action packed day began at 10 a.m. with the Opening Ceremony. Lewis ‘Woody’ Underwood, Jesters Charity Drive Committee Chairman, gave a warm welcoming speech acknowledging the enormous support from all the sponsors, including the record breaking 20 Platinum sponsors supporting the Jesters Charity Drive this year.
Due credit was afforded to the Honorary Jester committee members who freely contribute essential skills, expertise and time to make fund raising for ‘Care for Kids’ successful. The ceremonial ribbon was cut by Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn, Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh, Sopin Thappajug (managing director of the Diana Group and host to the Children’s Fair), Lewis Underwood (chairman, Jesters ‘Care for Kids’ Charity Drive Committee) and Graham Macdonald (JCD corporate sponsorship director). Mayor Niran gave a welcoming address and the 2005 Jesters Children’s Fair was officially open.

My Children’s raffle ‘Family Team’

Marching bands from Pattaya School No. 3 performed with precision and enthusiasm to open, and conclude, the opening ceremony.
Then it was over to emcees Neil Smith and Jester Pistol Pete (for the many Thai fairgoers), to keep things going at pace throughout the day, and they did just that.
The Children’s Variety Show was first up featuring Steve’s Circus Workshop, balloon modelers, stilt walkers, jugglers and a Magic Show. The Variety Show continued, on and off, throughout the day. Performances that ran through to midday included the Fountain of Life Children, Redemptorist School for the Blind Choir and Band, the Pattaya No. 3 Kindergarten band, Nareethip School Dancers, a stilt walker and juggler stage show, Eckie the famous Clown and Annie’s Band’.
At 12 noon it was time for Children’s games in front of the stage organized by Spencer, Linden, Nick and Isabelle with many prizes donated by Pattaya International Ladies Club. That was the first of three children’s games sessions organized throughout the day.
Professional entertainer Mike Gerrard was next up, followed by music from the Macedon Band. More Children’s games followed until it was time for the next entertainment session, this time from Yvonne & Friends, a fire-eater, juggler, magician and, to conclude that set, Eckie the Clown was back on. Then even more children’s games as the non-stop action continued. The ever popular Climbing Wall and Bouncy Complex were busy throughout and the Horseshoe Point ponies were definitely never short of young riders.
The Children’s Activity area was a special feature at the fair this year providing the most fun for the younger ones. Primarily organized by the local international school communities, these stalls featured all sorts of fun and games. Staff, students and parents from Garden International School, St Andrews International School, The Regent’s School, International School Eastern Seaboard and Montessori Children’s Centre turned out in force to support the ‘Care for Kids’ Charity Drive, and have fun.
This year the accent was on ‘Lucky’ with lucky numbers, lucky color wheel, lucky lollipops, lucky dips and lots more. The kids did not go hungry either, as the Fountain of Life had set up a 144 sq. meter ‘Chow Hall’ providing a ‘fine dining’ facility for more than 500 children to enjoy. Far more meals than the Fountain of Life Sisters and staff normally prepare for kids at the Center. For the fairgoers there were some 19 food stalls offering a wide variety of Western and Asian cuisine, and something to satisfy every palate.
Children’s games continued then, at around 3 p.m., it was the presentation of bicycles to ‘Best of the Class’ Fountain of Life kids for Chris Kays Scholarship Fund, sponsored by Mark Gorda and Russell Finch.
Meanwhile, the professional entertainers were back on stage until it was time for the Children’s Raffle Draw. The support this year for the Children’s Charity Raffle was staggering. The wide range of 26 valuable sponsored draw prizes, worth over 60,000 baht, were eagerly won, and deservedly so as the Children’s Raffle raised 150,000 baht, nearly 50% up on last year. This was largely due to the sterling work of Muffy Kerr & the Jesters, Bernie Tuppin, Reina Rances & BPH staff, my family ‘team’, and a much appreciated effort by student teams from the International School of the Regent’s.
Many thanks to main sponsor Pattaya Sports Club, Jester Neil, Brown Farm, the Diana Group, Pattaya Trader, and the US Navy for Mickey Monkey and Percy Panda.
The Diamond Shop made a spectacular Lucky Number draw for a gold chain with a Jester pendant valued at 45,000 baht.
After that excitement it was time for the children to ‘take the strain’ in the exciting Tug-O-War and watch a lot of falling about. The ‘grown-up children’, not to be outdone,’ had an unofficial pull later.
The final hour of the fair was given to live music from Annie’s band and Pop’s Pattaya All Stars, a final tour of the stalls and, for the organizers and stallholders, a well deserved visit to the Jesters beer tent, or The Blue Parrot for a few chilled Margaritas.
And, if it all got too exciting at any time, Bangkok Pattaya Hospital nurses were there to give a free blood pressure check, this year for adults and children. Sincere thanks also to the Bangkok Pattaya Ambulance Unit, on station all day to tend to anything more serious.
There was never a dull moment and certainly no lack of enthusiasm or enjoyment throughout the day. In fact, from very early on one could detect a real ‘buzz’ at the fair, and a great atmosphere that lasted to the close.
Sadly at 6 p.m. it was time to wrap, with the inevitable few lingering on, sitting around, wanting more, and wondering how the day had passed so quickly.
It had been another hugely successful Jesters Children’s Fair.
A children’s day in a one-off ‘Children’s Park’ created uniquely at the Diana Driving range just for the event. A day for the whole family to enjoy, and the only day of its kind throughout the year.
Finally, the Jesters ‘Care for Kids’ Charity Drive committee sincerely thanks all the fairgoer families and children that came to support the Children’s fair, the stallholders, our Charity Drive partners – namely Baltex, Jameson’s, Pattaya Mail and the Diana Group; all the Platinum, Gold Silver, Bronze and Pledge program sponsors, and the Diana Garden Resort & Driving Range for providing the ideal venue.
Can it ever be better? We will have to wait until next year to find out!

Jesters Care 4 Kids 2005
tops 5.4 million baht

Another record breaking year

‘Who is the beauty in ‘pink, and why is the man on the right pointing?’
Jesters Pub Night at Jameson’s – What a night!
Mike Franklin

The final lap on the 2005 Jesters ‘Care for Kids’ Charity Drive did not disappoint as it had all the ingredients and meticulous planning that would ensure a memorable night for all, and what a memorable Jesters Pub Night it turned out to be.
The fun had begun prior to the Saturday 17th September Pub Night as John Kennedy had laid down a 30,000 baht ‘Care for Kids’ challenge to Graham Macdonald to spend the evening in Diane Connelly’s pink ‘Tooth Fairy’ frock, complete with wand and tiara. Graham, the JCD Corporate sponsorship honcho and someone never slow to spot a good fund raising opportunity, accepted the challenge. But then nothing is ever simple, as Jimmy Howard set up a counter bid for Graham not to play pink fairy on the night.

Graham in ‘Pink' for a cool121,000 baht! Our Director of Corporate sponsorship never turns a fund raising opportunity down. Well done Mr. Macdonald.

Things, as they usually do, escalated somewhat and the bid level rose to 100,000 baht, so the race was on to see if it was ‘frock on’, or ‘frock off’. On Pub Night a 7.30 pm deadline was set, and the cool winning sum of 121,000 baht was raised in favor of ‘frock on’, so Graham quietly went off to change. A great start to the serious business of the nights’ fund raising activities.
Meanwhile, the spacious car park at Jameson’s had started to fill, people were arriving in numbers and there was a buzz of anticipation in the pub. We knew then, it was ‘game on’ for the night.
Nothing was left to chance in planning the program for the evening, as renowned Radio DJs, Paul Jackson &Andy Francis from Bangkok were on hand with Paul’s high-tech disco road show and Jameson’s was all set for the 2005 Jesters Pub Night.

Wall to wall in Jameson’s with smiling generous people buying Grand Raffle tickets, enjoying Paul Jackson’s DJ Road Show, Eddie Henheffer’s auction ‘cabaret’ and winding down the 2005 Jesters ‘Care for Kids’ Charity Drive.

7.30 pm became even more significant when Erik Sorenson and Robert Johansson arrived at the entrance to Jameson’s to complete their amazing 412 km two day round trip sponsored cycle ride to Chanthaburi. Obviously tired, they were warmly greeted with admiration for completing yet another marathon cycle ride to raise around 200,000 baht for the Jesters ‘Care for Kids’ Charity Drive. Virginia Sorenson was there with a congratulatory banner for them both, quickly followed by two well-deserved cool pints and a hearty Jameson’s meal.
What a start to the Pub Night, and what a warm-up to the Grand Raffle and Auction, the main events of the evening.
There were valuable trivia spot prizes (sponsored by Bussarin & Batik shop, the Grapevine, Jesters and others) to be won throughout, while the serious business of selling Grand raffle tickets got under way. Jesters Muffy and Scar led the sales drive with an impressive 390,000 baht, being raised from ticket sales both before, and on the night. Muffy, ace lucky ticket seller, ran his own incentive within the Grand Raffle by drawing bottles of wine for anyone who bought tickets from him – nice one Muffy!

SOLD, for 894,000 baht . When Canadian Eddie, auctioneer extraordinaire, forecast 650,000 he just smiled. Now we know why!

The Grand Raffle list had over 120 prizes to be won, and the Auction offered around 40 items of sports memorabilia, artifacts including an antique Chinese beer barrel donated by Kalae, and other valuable pieces, not least the beautiful range of Rosewood furniture and Tata Young’s red concert dress, signed photo & teddy bear.
Co-coordinating all this frantic activity were the four lady honorary Jester Committee members – Diane Connelly (Pub Night coordination & spot prizes), Helle Rantzen (Grand raffle organizer) - Karyn Walker (auction lots), Linden Phanpho (cashier for successful bids), Jester Wild Bill counting the notes and Pistol Pete enthusiastically displaying the items. A lot of much appreciated hard work from them on the Pub Night, and at the Children’s fair six days previous.
Eddie Henheffer, our professional Canadian auctioneer, volunteered his services for the fourth pub night in succession and worked tirelessly to sell off the long list of lots on offer. I asked him how much he thought he could raise (it was 551,000 baht in 2004), and, having assessed the list and potential of the items, he suggested maybe 650,000 baht and just smiled. By the close of the auction we knew why – a staggering 894,000 Baht was why!

‘A Pub Night Chatathon with Mike. Coming soon, with all the excitement of the Jesters Pub Night on PMTV.

A last minute item from generous Mike Axford topped the memorabilia bill. Andrew Flintoff’s signed cover of the September 4th Sunday Times featuring his outstanding performance with bat and ball in the England vs. Australia Test series – a major factor in England regaining the Ashes.
Jonny Wilkinson’s signed Rugby World Cup photo, a legendary Pele football shirt, two Carabao guitars signed by the band, and Bob van Mol’s Diamond earrings were just a few of the other valuable items on offer. Bids for the framed signed Michael Schumacher photo reached a staggering 150,000 baht and Arnold Palmer’s book & photo a further 85,000 baht. Some of the bidding was made even more exciting with bidders on-line from Dubai, North Thailand and Bangkok, amongst others not able to be present at Jameson’s.

Robert and Erik do it again for the Jesters, Chathaburi and back? – 412 km no problem for these fit charity-minded guys.

The range of auction lots on offer proved difficult to display, particularly the large items of Rosewood furniture so Tony Malhotra and the Pattaya Mail on TV (PMTV ) crew set up a closed circuit TV system to show the items in close-up on several of the many TV monitors that Jameson’s has well positioned around the pub. That also enabled live coverage of the evenings’ proceedings and a first screening of the PMTV two part feature film shot at the Jesters Children’s Fair.
The many prizes in the Grand Raffle, included six sets of airline tickets, the top prize being 2 return tickets BA/Qantas Ret. Bangkok – Sydney. Winning ticket numbers and names are displayed at Jameson’s, and a list of all winners is published here in Pattaya Mail. Prizes may be claimed through Khun Moo, Executive Secretary, in Jameson’s office as well as unpaid auction items that can also be settled with her.
Jameson’s was heaving, wall to wall with people and generous support for the Grand raffle and Auction coming from all directions. Manager Molly and the Jameson’s staff worked quickly and cheerfully in the packed pub to ensure the efficient service normally enjoyed at Jameson’s, under Landlord Kim’s ever-watchful eye from the Nova table.
Lewis (Woody) Underwood, JCD Chairman, duly acknowledged the support from everyone, and the teamwork by the Committee to take ‘Care for Kids’ to its 8th successful conclusion.
Looking back, the 5.2 million baht raised by the 2004 Jesters Charity Drive was impressive enough, and with the cumulative experience of previous years, the committee teamwork of the Jesters and ‘Honorary’ Jesters working together, the Charity Drive partners (Baltex, Jameson’s, the Diana Group and Pattaya Mail through Tony Malhotra), the sponsorship by Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Pledge sponsors, Erik & Robert’s return cycle trip to Chanthaburi, and the support from everyone who attended the Children’s fair and Pub Night, the expectation for 2005 was naturally optimistic.
And justly so as, (subject to final confirmation), the 2005 Jesters ‘Care for Kids’ Charity Drive has raised over 5.4 million baht. That opens the door for even more help to be given to the current beneficiaries, and new beneficiaries to be considered in the future.
Why? To do what the Jesters ‘Care for Kids’ Charity Drive sets out to do. Simply to ‘Care for Kids’ and give them a start in life. With your continued help, the Jesters and their associates will do just that!