2014 CAPTIVATING INTERNATIONAL KIDZ WITH HEART MINI OLYMPICS – HITS RECORD NUMBERS!

Blog by B. Horibata

“What happens when you throw 270 kids plus their parents, 170 volunteers and the Captivating International team together at the 2014 Kidz with Heart Mini Olympics?  A day full of fun and competition!  Rain or shine – It’s a perfect family day!”

May last year, our Kids With Heart Mini Olympics fundraising event was attended by 150 kids between the ages of 5 and 11.  This year , May 24 saw support and attendance increase to an astounding 270 participants.   In a day of high level competition; the excitement and determination to win was evident.  This year’s planning committee outdid themselves and we could not have achieved our goals without the leadership of Claire Taylor and her team, consisting of Alena, Julie Ponthier, Bonnie, and Vivian Yuan.  These ladies were vital to the overall success in this years event, especially Vivian who created all the flyers, banners, sponsorship, and marketing pieces. “Each year planning this event has gotten easier, as the support we receive from the community grows each year. 

Our biggest challenges lie in recruiting the kids and volunteers, but each year this gets easier, as our community becomes more aware and excited about the event.” ~ Claire Taylor; SnapDragon Interiors

Every corner of the SIS sports field and beyond were used to create sporting events that ranged from running events like the three-legged race, a lively limbo contest, soccer, swimming, basketball, and a spirited game of “Red light – Green light” The most amazing part of this event was the choreography of group leaders and minders escorting children from one activity to the next within a very disciplined time table.

How does this happen?  It starts with an enthusiastic volunteer coordinator by the name of Alena Bednarova; she single-handedly recruited over 170 volunteers from schools, businesses, her friends, and the community.  Cheers to all the volunteers – over 170 of them for making this day all about the kids and motivating them to strive for the best.  It’s not just about the medals – it’s really about getting kids off the couch and competing at all different levels to test their physical and mental capacities and the volunteers really deserve the credit.

Other notable volunteers who give tirelessly to this event are Greg Schultheis from Amrosia who not only sponsors the event year after year but he participates as well.  You cannot keep up with Greg as he tirelessly coordinates the heavy lifting of equipment back and forth before and after the event and finds time and energy to run one of the events.  His biggest challenge and triumph is coordinating the “BIG RUN” at the end of the event where 250 children who started at the entrance of the sports field speed through the streets of Jingshan.  What a task!

Other note-worthy volunteers were the students of QSI and SIS Secondary school, Joel Haines and his team of professional NBA coaches from 5-Star Basketball for running a professional basketball competition; and David Shoemaker and Jarrod Biggins from Dawei Awesome swim club for the efficient and fun swimming competition.  This group was supported by co-organizing partners on the day – Jingshan Villa’s/China Merchants, International SOS Medical Clinic, Shekou Physical Therapy, Shenzhen Standard, Shenzhen Party, and SHENZHENER Biz & Lifestylz – all playing their part in making this a wonderful event.  Special mention of thanks also to our MC for the day, Alan Brown whose lively commentary and interviews kept everyone engaged and informed.

Congratulations to all participants who each received an Olympics medal and special congratulations to the award winners, who proudly received their gold, silver and bronze medals and proudly held their country flags on the winner’s podium at the end of the event.

Thanks to the support of volunteers, parents, kids and the wonderful corporate support from all the companies listed below.  Special mention to our three KEY sponsors this year – AMROSIA, CHEVRON and WIK, as well as financial support for individual events from our two local international schools (SIS & QSI), Green Packaging and 5-Star Sports.   Additional revenue was also raised from our generous food sponsors – WIK., H & H Gourmet and the BoatHouse.  In total, over RMB150,000 was raised helping Captivating International’s administrative team provide the support and resources to the programs and projects around China – projects helping children and families reach out for a better tomorrow.  

THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS

EVENT SPONSORS: AMROSIA GLOBAL SOURCING & INSPECTION, CHEVRON, & WIK. 

SEGMENT SPONSORS: Shekou International School (SIS), Green Packaging Asia (GPA), Five Star Sports, & Quality Schools International (QSI), .

CO-ORGANIZING  SPONSORS: CHINA MERCHANTS, JINGSHAN VILLAS, DAWEI AWESOME, SNAPDRAGON INTERIORS

FIRST-AID PROVIDERS:  SOS INTERNATIONAL & SKP MEDICAL GROUP

MEDIA PROVIDERS:  SHENZHENER Bizness & Lifestlylz Magazine, SHENZHEN STANDARD, & SHENZHENPARTY

The Kidz with Heart Mini Olympics is a fundraising event organized by Captivating International; a Hong Kong registered charity that helps orphaned, abandoned and poorest-of-the-poor children around China as well as helping entire village communities in remote locations rise up out of poverty through sustainable projects and programs.

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