The Jesters Care for Kids Charity Drive has always been a bit of a misnomer, as since our inaugural event back in 1998, we have had so much help from people outside the Jesters Motorcycle Club in the organization and execution thereof. Without their incalculable assistance, it would have been nigh impossible to have raised 4.6 million Baht for the kids at the Fountain of Life Center.

From the get-go Niel Poulsen of Chonburi Siam Steel Mill Services has been the catalyst in the planning stages of each successive charity drive with an early infusion of 100,000 Baht to kick off our corporate sponsorship drive each year. Not only has he got things going with his Platinum Sponsorship for 4 years running now, but also has actively gone out and encouraged other companies to join us and help out.

Graham MacDonald - British Chamber of Commerce

Graham Macdonald with Kim Fletcher

Graham MacDonald, Chairman of the British Chamber of Commerce on the Eastern Seaboard and former chairman of the organizing committee for our Charity Drive, has been invaluable with his connections and business contacts in accruing additional corporate sponsorship and arranging venues for our events. He has been tremendously helpful in acquiring raffle prizes from a variety of sources, especially airlines, such as British Airways and Qantas, SAS, United, Lauda and from DTC Travel. Graham's influence, (along with Greg Watkins') was also instrumental in obtaining BCCT funding for the auxiliary classroom built last year at the Fountain of Life for the older kids.

With his, Niel's and Paul Baker's assistance, our commercial financial support has gone from less than 300,000 Baht to nearly 1 million in 3 years' time.

Additionally, Graham's biggest coup for us was convincing Tesco/Lotus to designate the large donation box in their store to our cause for the last two years. Last year's result boosted our funds by nearly 250,000 Baht.

Kim Fletcher and Shenanigan's gave us a delightful surprise this year with their offer of Platinum Sponsorship. This is the first year that we have had two Platinum Sponsors, and it is just possible that there may be yet a third around the corner.

1998 In the first year of our Charity Drive, there was but a single event, which was held at Shenanigan's (then Delaney's) when we had only a Pub Night. Shenanigan's not only provided the site for our raffling of prizes and auctioning of items, but also donated a percent of all food and drink sold on the night. 1999 The following year, 1999, we added our Children Fairs to the Charity Drives. For the fairs we were in need of suitable hotel grounds to stage them. As mentioned above, Graham MacDonald was the person we turned to in order to secure all venues to date. Our first Children's Fair was at the Royal Cliff Beach Resort. Then GM, John Wasser, and his aide Judy McNamara, were our generous hosts and helped us organize the fest as well. Bjorn Richardson, GM at the Royal Garden Resort also was of great assistance in helping with the Fair. Again, the Pub Night was at Shenanigan's with the same donation agreement. 2000 Last year our Charity Drive went to North Pattaya to the Amari Orchid Resort, where both the Children's Fair and the Pub Night were held on the premises. The Fair was held on the lower lush grounds across from the beach, while the Pub Night was staged at Henry J. Bean's. Khun Tippawan, RM, and then GM, Jo Stetten, were instrumental in our successful execution of both events.

2001

And this year, we have yet another venue for our Children's Fair at the Siam Bayshore Resort in South Pattaya off the 2nd Road, where GM Hans Spoerri and RM Somkhit have graciously extended their cooperation. We are also looking forward to going back to Shenanigan's for the Pub Night this year.

Effective marketing for our Charity Drive has also contributed much to our success. Neville Pick's
(email) posters and fair program guides have provided advertisement and souvenirs for our events. All the same, the Pattaya Mail crew of Peter Mahotra, Dan Dorothy, Brendan Richards, Dr. Iain Corness and Tom the cameraman have been outstanding in giving us both extensive newspaper coverage, as well as TV exposure.

And this year we have enhanced our media hype with the establishment of our own website. The person solely responsible for this is Web Mistress Susie Ngamsuwan. She has devoted endless hours to creating and constructing the site. Please check it out: (www.care4kids.info).

Alice at the Center

Alice Poulsen, Niel's wife, who originally got the Jesters linked with the Sisters at the Center, has been the real spark plug for our Charity Drive with her infinite energy and undying support. She has helped us with many facets of our Charity Drive; including chasing down raffle prizes and helping attract stall renters for the Children's Fair.

Jesters also do their part and one is Kevin Mitch, who took over for Darren Rose after his transfer abroad. Kevin is now our Site Coordinator for the Fair and is in charge of the entire set up and all logistics. Also, Cape East provides a stage for us free of cost, and is a corporate sponsor.
Jill Thomas, Head Mistress at St. Andrew's, has been in charge of gathering different schools to participate at our Children's Fairs. The schools, which have included St. Andrews, International School of Regents, Garden International, International School of the Eastern Seaboard, Satit Udomseuksa, as well as Dulwich International College in Phuket and the Asian University. All occupy stalls and provide educational games and fun activities.

Harry Riley

Mike Franklin, who has run the Children's Raffle at our Fairs the last two years, has now become involved in PR and advertising for us this year. Khun Neera from Bangkok Pattaya Hospital provides an ambulance and medical team for the day, and assists Mike in the Children's Raffle stall. This year the ambulance will follow the Sponsored Cycle Ride around their circuit. Harry Riley also lends a hand as do the Pattaya Sports Club, who donated most of the prizes for the Children's Raffle last year.

In Paul Baker's absence, Kim Fletcher has taken charge of the Sponsored Cycle Ride our 3rd prolific source of funds for us, behind corporate sponsorship and raffle ticket sales. He and Paul Baker last year collected over 250, 000 Baht in sponsorship money for their 50 kilometer efforts.
Amorn Mahotra has also been helpful in arranging the Police Volunteers that not only assist with the highway crossings for the Cycle Ride, but also assist fair-goers in parking and easing traffic conditions.

Safety Insurance also donated massive quantities of bottled water for the cyclists and fair goers last year, and had donation boxes up at their stall for those wishing to give something for the free water.

Stalls

Wine Stall

Stallholders are very important to the success of the Children's Fair. Besides the numerous schools, mentioned above with their inventive stalls, there are also food stalls, such as the following from last year's event: Amari Pasta, Sher 'E' Punjab Indian Cuisine, Crathco Snow Cones, Royal Cliff's Soft Drinks, Pat's Pies, Fish & Chips, M & M Pies, Shenanigan's Thai Food, Benihana Japanese and American Food, Berli Jucker Wine,s, Olala Crepes, Grazella Ice Cream, TQ Hamburgers, as well as the Jesters Beer Garden. For this year's stall listing click here.

There are also handicraft stalls present at our Fairs, such as the following that we had last year: Planet Coconut Unique Thai Goods, Khun Khanida Bags and Purses, Khun Thanoodech Batik Silk, Afghan and Middle East Carpets, Sue's Clothing Goods, Indonesian Goods, Candle Lady, Henna Tattoo and Fancy Fingernails.

In addition, there are also a mixed assortment of other types of stalls in the perimeter, such as these we had last year: Ripley's Believe It or Not Games, Bookazine, Metro Magazine, Asia Books, Amari Photo and Sticker, and the Jester Wear stall.

Raffle Donors
Grand Raffle prize donors are essential to the success of the Pub Night, like stall renters are to that of the Fair. Without attractive raffle prizes, it is difficult to sell tickets, and as mentioned above, it is one of the major ways we make money for charity. Besides the much sought after airline tickets, the following donated prizes and auction items were presented to us last year:

Royal Garden Spa and Fitness Club Year's family membership Dusit Resort Gym Year membership Eastern Star Resort Year membership Mark's & Spencers Cosmetic and toiletries Shenanigan's Free carvery per week for year Transit Maintenance 2 mountain bikes Steve Gormley and Associates Engraved mirrors Himalayan Textiles Tibetan carpets Paul's Antiques Teak Spirit House Artorn Set of Blacklist golf clubs Dr. Norm Biker leather apparel

We also have countless other businesses, bars, restaurants, hotels, football clubs, etc. that donate dinners, vouchers, free stays that we combine into super package prizes.

In essence, there are countless people who offer to assist and help in every way possible. For example, the last two years Mick Angel, a retired Royal Marine, has sold event T-shirts at our Fair. Tim Shekell helped the Jesters man the Beer Tent last year that raised 100,000 Baht from the donated beer. Sean and Hanna from Royal Garden Spa and Fitness Center continue to organize children's games for the Fair and put on tennis and aerobic shows. David Garred from the Dusit Gym helps with the now legendary tug-of-war contest at our Fair. And a myriad of others, who are not intended to go unmentioned. But when it is all said and done, Tip Top Service and Cleaning, and Global Silverhawk, and our friends ensure that the fairgrounds are more immaculate than they were before the event.

Just as important to the Jesters Care for Kids Charity Drive, besides the individuals and companies mentioned in this article is the Pattaya Community itself. Their attendance and participation in the Children's Fair and Pub Night is vital to our success of raising money for the Fountain of Life and the underprivileged children. For more information about what is happening this year with our Charity Drive, again, please visit: www.care4kids.info.

Last Year's Corporate Sponsors:

Platinum Sponsor (100,000 baht)	Chonburi Siam Steel Mill Services
Gold Sponsors (50,000 baht)	Foster Wheeler
	Shell Malampaya
	Riley's Pub & Café
	Siemen's Westinghouse
Silver Sponsors ( 25,000 baht)	ACS
	BCCT
	Cape East Castrol
	Combibloc
	CR Industrial Services
	Dow Chemicals
	DTC Travel
	GKN Driveshafts
	Hemaraj Land & Development
	MBMG International
	Safety Insurance
	Smedvig-Asia
	Tahitian Queen
	Tomaryk Design
	TRW
	John Hyrb III
	Jeff Paladeau
	Serge Lafreniere
	Underwood family
Bronze Sponsors (10,000 baht)	American Diamond
	Barbour Threads
	CSA
	Heckett Multiserve
	Katoen Natie
	LIG (Durex)
	Pioneer Concrete
	Unithai
	Viking Beachcomber
	Amero Family
	Baker family
	Rose Family
	Clive and Andy