Jesters Care for Kids Charity Drive: Who Sponsors, Who Contributes

by Lewis Underwood

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.

Fun and games two years ago at the Jester’s Care 4 Kids Children’s Fair.

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 year’s 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 Shenanigans 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.

In the first year of our Charity Drive, there was but a single event, which was held at Shenanigans (then Delaney’s) when we had only a Pub Night. Shenanigans 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.

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 Shenanigans with the same donation agreement.

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. RM Tippawan and then GM Jo Stetten were instrumental in our successful execution of both events.

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

Effective marketing for our Charity Drive has also contributed much to our success. Neville Pick’s posters and fair program guides have provided advertisement and souvenirs for our events. All the same, the Pattaya Mail crew of Peter Malhotra, 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.freeservers.com).

Alice Poulsen, Niel’s wife, who originally got the Jesters linked with the Sisters at the Center, has been the real sparkplug 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, occupy stalls and provide educational games and fun activities.

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 Malhotra 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.

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, Shenanigans Thai Food, Benihana Japanese and American Food, Berli Jucker Wines, Olala Crepes, Grazella Ice Cream, TQ Hamburgers, as well as the Jesters Beer Garden.

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.

Grand Raffle prize donors are essential to the success of 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 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); Shenanigans (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); and 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.freeservers.com

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 & Cafe

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 and the 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.