The curtains have closed on the successful fifth annual Childfest 2011 events, but the community of St. Maarten still have a chance to win one of three fabulous prizes in the Super Childfest Raffle which has been extended to the end of June.
The raffle was scheduled to be drawn at the end of the Family Fun Day on Sunday May 15, but had been extended because not all the raffle booklet stubs had been returned and to give more persons a chance to enter.
First prize is a Cruise for family of four and four airline tickets. Second prize is a one week in a two bedroom suite in Orlando, Florida USA and third prize is a one-week stay in a two bedroom suite in Panama.
All proceeds from the raffle will go into the pool of funds raised during the Childfest 2011 activities and will be ploughed back into the community to benefit underprivileged children in St. Maarten/St. Martin. Tickets cost US $10 each and are available from any Childfest Foundation board member or from Port de Plaisance.
Childfest Foundation President Angela Richards-Huggins said the foundation is humbled by the support it had received at the Childfest Gala Dinner held at Port de Plaisance on Saturday, May 14 and the Family Fun Day on May 15.
Around 75,000 in donations and pledges were made at the gala dinner, which excludes ticket and other sales. The figures are still being tabulated and will be released in the special Childfest Thankyou Newsletter which will be out soon.
The pledges included a US $50,000 joint pledge made by Sudi and Katsiaryna Özkan and their family and friends. About 300 persons supported the gala dinner, which featured entertainment from Youth Waves Band celebrating their 25th anniversary this year, Melvin Hodge, the Özkan kids and Iowa-based Russian pianist Marcelina Turcanu.
The team of chefs for the evening Dino Jagtiani, Leslie Martina, Benjamin Laurent, Iwan Pennings and Floris Van Noort - were assisted by students from Sundial School, University of St. Martin (USM) and Lycee in St. Martin.
Thousands of persons supported the Family Fun Day which featured a range of fun activities for children and families.
The highlight was the Childfest Star singing competition and Childfest in Motion Dance competition. The junior category of the Childfest Stars competition was won by Angelle Presentacion, who also captured the most popular contestant prize. Second place went to Nikko Zurita and third place went to Princess Katherina Ozkan. The Pre-Teens 10-13-year-old category was won by Keoni York, while second place went to Geniquah Thewet and third place to Jemani Obrien. Thewet was the Most Popular contestant in this category. Other contestants were Che'Vonne James and Sara Grace Pittel.
The teen category (ages 14-17.) was won by Julia Bates, who was also the most popular contestant. Marseno Bremer came in second and Fabian Martin third.
Unique Freakz (Magnes Evers, Guillaume Richards, Miles Brown, Kael Richards and Ki-Mani Olivacce) won the Childfest in Motion dance competition. Shakers (Shakirah Gysbertha, Mahealeney Kemper, Che'Vonne James and Sha-Aeisha Gysbertha) placed second and Soualiga Solo (Yukti Jagtiani) placed third. Other contestants in this category were Fantastic Four (Ajay Dayalani, Mahek Ahuja, Jai Dayalani and Muskaan Dayalani) and Dynamite (Shivani Advani, Hrithik Alwani, Aashish Aswani, Kunal Bijlani and Viren Baharani).
Childfest Foundation President Angela Richards-Huggins thanked all who in one way or the other supported the event. Also on the Childfest Foundation Board are Vice President Katsiaryna Ozkan, Treasurer Hakan Unal, Secretary Marsha Thomas and member Ami Bora. Coordinating team volunteers include Karen Hana, Wallenda Matser, Grisha Marten, Hanisha Alwani, Ursel Biabiani,Chris Seger, Mr. Danny Fleming and Ali Cetin.
