People & Places

A Party for their Future
Julie and the Children

Exactly one month after the tsunami caused such destruction and suffering across the region, Clearwater Bay resident Julie Buck threw a party - a party for 120 of her closest friends (and their friends).

All reported a great evening of delicious food, wine, and dancing at Hebe Haven Yacht Club and the next day Julie skipped town taking $96,900 of her friends' hard-earned cash with her to the sun and sand of Thailand!

However, rather than spend the money (equivalent to 468,116 baht) on herself, she started filling bank accounts for 950 precious children of Takuapa.

Takuapa, Phang Nga Province, a community about 2 hours north of Phuket, was where the majority of the devastation occurred in Thailand on 29 December. Of the 950 children who were left homeless, 50 have lost both parents and about 300 have lost one of their parents. All have lost their homes, relatives (including brothers and sisters), friends and neighbours and all of their belongings.
Julie worked tirelessly with many other volunteers in the Phuket area, including legal and accounting experts, to build an administrative structure to help these children in a concrete way over the long term. This legal entity is called the Tsunami Relief Fund for the Children of Takuapa and funds raised will be used (in priority order):

• To provide proper schooling for the children
• To provide additional opportunities for recreation and personal advancement
• To provide long-term assistance to all the children through their graduation from school

100% of funds raised go directly to the children - no administrative fees are taken from monies donated (unless the donor specifically requests that it be used for administrative purposes). In order to ensure that the children feel a part of the process, each child is given a monthly allowance which they are required to put into their own bank account and their progress in school and use of the money is monitored.

Julie's had two more parties and a fourth is coming up on October 29th. You can come too - and spread the word to all of your closest friends. Come prepared to pay for the meal, bid on some silent auction prizes, and donate more so that a child can graduate from high school knowing that you cared.

Further Information:
The Tsunami Relief Fund for the Children of Tapuaka - their excellent website with update on progress with the funds and the children and some heart wrenching pictures.

How to donate: if you cannot come to Julie's party - here are wire transfer details so that you can send the money directly to Thailand.