Clown Doctors awarded $30,000 grant

Smiles all round as Clown Doctors awarded $30,000 grant

• Jetstar awards $30,000 Flying Start Programme grant to Clown Doctors New Zealand.
• Specialist “clown college” training and Smile Days nationwide appeal will extend impact around the country.
• 2013 Jetstar Flying Start Programme grant applications now open.
Jetstar today announced that Clown Doctors would receive the airline’s fourth Flying Start Programme grant, which is made up of $15,000 cash and $15,000 in travel.

Clown Doctors New Zealand says a $30,000 grant from Jetstar couldn’t have come at a better time for the medical charity as it seeks to expand its services throughout New Zealand and bring more smiles to kids in hospital.

Clown Doctors New Zealand CEO Dr Thomas Petschner said, “In more and more countries, laughter as medicine is integrated into the daily hospital routine. There is an overwhelming demand for our services around the country so spreading the word about our work is very important for our charity.”

A three-day Medical Clowning training clinic, facilitated by the International Institute of Medical Clowning (affiliated with Steinbeis University, Berlin, Germany) will be held in Auckland in early February 2013, funded by the cash component of the grant. All 24 Clown Doctors will participate and put their new skills to use immediately.

“Without the Jetstar Flying Start grant we would not be able to provide and facilitate the world-class training in Medical Clowning for all our 24 Clown Doctors from around New Zealand,” said Dr Petschner.

David Hall, Jetstar Australia and New Zealand CEO, said that the Clown Doctors are providing a hugely valuable, and often un-noticed, service in hospitals.

“Bringing a smile to someone who is unwell is no easy task – the work the Clown Doctors do with families who are enduring a very tough time is remarkable. Their ability to bring joy and laughter to many is what impressed the judging panel and we are thrilled to be supporting such a unique organisation.”

Jetstar Flying Start Programme judge and rugby league legend Steve Price has seen the Clown Doctors in action at Starship Hospital.

“There is little known about the healing power of a smile and laughter. The work the Clowns Doctors do, in helping patients and families through a tough time, is an amazing and powerful thing.”
So far Jetstar has supported four NZ charities, donating a total of $120,000. Previous recipients include Bellyful, Arthritis New Zealand and Deaf Aotearoa and this year will see the launch of the popular Flying Start grant programme in Australia.

Applications for the first 2013 New Zealand grant close at 5.00pm (NZST) on 31 March 2013 and application details can be found at www.jetstar.com.

ABOUT CLOWN DOCTORS

Over 50,000 hospital patients and family members have been entertained in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch hospitals since the Clown Doctors organisation started in New Zealand in 2009.

Clown Doctors use laughter as an aid to encourage and motivate, give psychological support and complement the therapy of the sick or suffering in hospitals and relief centers. The funny chaos created by Clown Doctors brings smiles not only to the faces of the patients and their family members, but also to hospital staff and visitors.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION – JETSTAR’S FLYING START GRANTS PROGRAMME

Grant Allocation
Each quarterly grant will be worth $30,000, comprising:
- $15,000 cash
- $15,000 worth of travel with Jetstar anywhere on the Jetstar network
- Promotion of their community group or organisation on Jetstar’s website and Facebook page

Who can apply
Entry is open to New Zealand based not-for-profit community groups and organisations of any size, who are seeking funding to help enhance the lives of people in their local community and can be classified into one of the following categories:
• Charity;
• Educational organisation;
• Health organisation;
• Sporting group or organisation; or
• Arts group or organisation.
The community group or organisation should have a specific project in mind for how the grant will be used to benefit their local community.

How grants are awarded
Entries are reviewed by a judging panel that includes:
• Jetstar Australia and New Zealand CEO David Hall
• Rugby league legend Steve Price
• Jetstar pilot Richard Falkner and Jetstar Passenger Services Manager Sharon Cocker
When applications open and close
Applications for each 2013 quarter open and close on the dates below and details can be found at www.jetstar.com.

GRANT ROUND APPLICATIONS OPEN APPLICATIONS CLOSE
Q1 1 December 2012 31 March 2013
Q2 1 April 2013 30 June 2013
Q3 1 July 2013 30 September 2013
Q4 1 October 2013 31 December 2013

2012 Jetstar Flying Start Programme grant recipients
• Quarter 1 - Bellyful - the Kiwi charity providing free, home cooked meals to new families, used the grant to help fund the travel and costs associated with opening new branches around the country including its first ever Christchurch branch in August.
• Quarter 2 - Arthritis New Zealand. Its grant will create a unique camp for Kiwi kids suffering from arthritis. To be held in Matamata in 2013, the camp will offer young sufferers a chance to meet, learn new skills and build their confidence.
• Quarter 3 - Deaf Aotearoa. Deaf Aotearoa’s grant is going towards the second annual NZ Deaf and Hearing Impaired Parents Conference and Children’s Camp in January 2013. The grant will give an additional 20 families the opportunity to share the challenges they face raising hearing children and learn from expert speakers and educators. Children who have deaf parents will also be able to meet other kids who have similar experiences.
• Quarter 4 - Clown Doctors

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