It’s taken a bit to tally up all our stats for the last year, but it was well worth the effort! With over 53.000.000 CZK (2.1 million Euro) worth of aid distributed to needy children and institutions, new patrons and sponsors having joined us and our new and improved Dr. Clown program cheering up hospitalized children here in the CR – 2007 breaks all records for Chance 4 Children (C4C)!
So, if you’re interested in all the gory details and trivia, bear with us and scroll on down to see how the year went for us. It‘s definitely been busy, but most of all it has been a very gratifying and rewarding year, as we continue in our quest to make the playing field a little more level for those children less fortunate than others!
The Highlights:
- The Chance 4 Children ROBIN HOOD program rendered an astounding 53 million CZK in aid to socially disadvantaged and institutionalized children in Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland and Bosnia Herzegovina, making 2007 its best year ever!
- Expansion of “Springboard to Life” initiative now provides over 100 orphans with extracurricular vocational training and employment opportunities.
- New patron joins C4C: Multi-national pharmaceutical giant Pfizer supports DR. CLOWN program, assisting hospitalized children to recover from illness and disease.
The Year in Brief:
January/February:
Expansion of Springboard to Life program to include music lessons and additional English courses. To increase enrollment, C4C team holds presentations for management and staff in orphanages in Bohemia.
ROBIN HOOD humanitarian shipments received for distribution, consisting of factory-new merchandise for orphans. Values show appr. FMV (Fair Market Value):
17.1. Sweden – 10 pallets, 196.000,- Euro
19.1. Norway – 10 pallets, 290.000,- Euro
21.2. Sweden – 4 pallets, 85.500,- Euro
March:
Employment opportunities for orphans: Meeting with Haircity hairstyling salons management, presentation of program, motivating and encouraging managers to enroll children.
Humanitarian Shipment to Bosnia. Duration of trip: 1 week! Truck shipment of new clothing and shoes for over 1000 needy children and socially excluded families. Distribution including clown program in 4 orphanages. Meeting with CZ ambassador (H.E. Jiří Kuděla) in Sarajevo who expressed gratitude to C4C for 10.000.000 CZK worth of aid distributed. H. E. mentioned that C4C helped comprise the biggest single humanitarian shipment to Bosnia in 5 years and promised support for C4C activities in BiH. BiH ambassador in Prague, H.E. Ivan Orlič, invited C4C team to express his thanks.
C4C/TV NOVA Bowling Cup in Brno. TV NOVA stars mentor and lead 10 teams of altogether 60 kids from 14 Moravian orphanages. Prizes from Vodafone. Planet Bowling management provided great refreshments and snacks for kids. TV Nova stars formed friendships with children and gained valuable insights into the lives of institutionalized children.
ROBIN HOOD humanitarian shipments received for distribution, consisting of factory-new merchandise for orphans. Values show appr. FMV (Fair Market Value):
20.3. Sweden – 3 pallets, 65.000 Euro
April/May:
C4C Bowling Cup in Prague. 12 captains from 2 of Prague’s most famous musicals (Angelika, Excalibur) lead and mentored 50 children from 10 different orphanages toward much coveted prizes. Some participants were: Kamil Střihavka, Alan Bastien, Ali Amiri, Václav “Noid” Bárta, etc.
National Nejmilejší koncert in Kolín. C4C sponsored prizes and presents for appr. 250 kids. C4C representatives visited the event and addressed attendees.
1st anniversary of C4C office in City Hall building.
June/July:
New C4C Calendar 2008 conceived. First meeting with noted photographer Ondřej Pýcha concerning his participation in calendar project. Ondřej graciously agreed to be the official C4C photographer on a complimentary basis.
C4C is the sole sponsor of prizes and presents for 2007 Czech National Orphan Olympics.
C4C/DHL International Bowling Cup in Ostrava. 30 kids participate from 3 countries: Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland. DHL senior management mentors and provides team leaders for children.
ROBIN HOOD humanitarian aid distribution in Poland: 5 orphanages and approximately 160 needy children received new wardrobes and shoes.
ROBIN HOOD humanitarian shipment to Trenčín, Slovakia. Delivered truckload of brand new clothing and shoes for the whole Trenčín region, supplying new wardrobes and shoes for 450 children in 13 different orphanages.
C4C/DHL International Children’s Day in Liberec. C4C invited 40 children from Polish and Czech orphanages. Kids enjoyed treasure hunt in the ZOO and “Best Picture” photographic contest with thought-after prizes. Mentored and lead by DHL employees, the children enjoyed an action packed day with lots of fun and adventure. Complimentary lunch at Hotel Liberec. In the afternoon the day concluded with a visit to the popular Babylon complex and aqua park.
ROBIN HOOD humanitarian shipments received for distribution, consisting of factory-new merchandise for orphans. Values show appr. FMV (Fair Market Value):
11.6. Sweden – 8 pallets, 232.000,- Euro
25.6. Sweden – 14 pallets, 406.000,- Euro (shoes)
25.6. Norway – 16 pallets, 257.000,- Euro
23.7. Sweden – 5 pallets, 145.000,- Euro
August/ September:
C4C duly registers as non-profit civic association in Slovakia.
C4C requests audit from Rödl & Partner international auditors. Audit passed “Without Reservation”.
C4C representatives invited to celebrate 100th anniversary of Detsky Domov Liptál.
Casting for C4C Haircity program in the Czech Republic to provide employment opportunities for institutionalized children.
C4C becomes Official Charity of “Tour de Ski 2007”
October:
Karlstein Rotary Club Golf Tournament for the benefit of C4C yields 600.000 CZK in proceeds for C4C’s programs for children in need.
Casting for C4C Haircity program in Slovakia to provide employment opportunities for institutionalized children.
Pharmaceutical multi-national giant Pfizer becomes C4C patron and offers sponsorship for Dr. Clown program, assisting hospitalized children in their recovery.
November/December:
Humanitarian shipment to Košice, Slovakia with new clothing and shoes for the whole Košice region. The trip provided new wardrobes and shoes for more than 1000 children living in 15 orphanages. Košice Mayor received C4C team and expressed his gratitude for the help rendered and the engagement and dedication of the team. Košice employment bureau expressed interest in cooperation with C4C‘s STL program.
International C4C/TV MARKIZA Bowling in Trnava, Slovakia. 8 stars from from TV Markíza lead 40 kids from 8 orphanages from the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Great fun and many new friendships formed between TV stars and children. People from TV MARKIZA express eagerness to join C4C again.
First Dr. Clown workshop takes place at Hilton Prague.
Highly acclaimed C4C calendar 2008 printed and ready for distribution.
C4C representatives participate in Christmas Charity Party of Joma Sportcompany. The event raises 10.000,- CZK for C4C programs for socially disadvantaged children.
Christmas Charity Concert in Hilton Prague. 1500 socialite guests attended. Proceeds for C4C: 105.000,- CZK
ROBIN HOOD humanitarian shipments received for distribution, consisting of factory-new merchandise for orphans. Values show appr. FMV (Fair Market Value):
13.11. Sweden- 7 pallets, 196.000,- Euro
Odds and ends:
Pick-ups from C4C storage facilities:
- DD Liptál
- DD Ostrava-Hrabová,
- DD Budišov
- DD Frýdlant
- DD Karviná.
Organizations and companies assisting ROBIN HOOD team with aid distribution:
- Caritas České Budějovice – covering southern Czech orphanages (14) and asylum houses
- Caritas Plzeň – Pilsen area and south-west Czechia, orphanages (5) and asylum houses
- Caritas Cheb – covering west/north-west orphanages (5) and asylum houses
- Red Cross Brno – Brno and surrounding area, covering orphanages (5) and asylum houses, institutions for the handicapped and old folks homes
- A special „Thank You“ goes to the Bata company who generously distributed ROBIN HOOD aid for the Zlín region, all in all to 10 orphanages
C4C’s Vitamin team
Eight years on, still going strong – C4C’s Vitamin team!
- With the help of the Efes Produce Company, C4C’s Vitamin team distributes on a weekly basis fresh fruits and vegetables to needy institutions with a challenged budget. In 2007 that amounted to 368.000 CZK. Amongst other produce, the team distributed 840 Kg of tomatoes and 1513 Kg of oranges to help orphans have a well rounded diet.
- Company EUFI provided 36.720 eggs in 2007 worth 56.000 CZK.
WHAT A REMARKABLE AND BUSY YEAR FOR OUR SMALL TEAM, WOULDN’T YOU AGREE?
