Baan Jing Jai
The Thai Your Shoes Foundation was founded in 2008 to aid a Thailand Orphanage called Baan Jing Jai. Baan Jing Jai is the current home to over 80 orphans in Pattaya, Thailand. As with many organizations in third world countries, Baan Jing Jai struggles to support the physical needs of all of its children so there is little room to indulge the kids with toys or gifts which may seem common to children of more prosperous nations. Thai Your Shoes began as a shoe drive at William Fremd High School in Palatine, Illinois. In just one year, it has developed into a campaign that fights for more than footwear, but clothing, toys, school supplies, and money to help alleviate some of the financial burdens at the orphanage and give a little hope to over 80 of the world's most deserving children.
Navigating This Site
On this page you will find a timeline giving a brief overview of some of Thai Your Shoes' fundraising history. To see the children at Baan Jing Jai and learn more about where the money has gone, please choose a year from the drop down menu under the "Thai Your Shoes" tab above, or simply click one of the links below.
Lace 'em Up!!
The Race For Sincere Hearts III will be held Saturday May 28th at 9AM in Deer Grove East Forest Preserve. All proceeds benefit Baan Jing Jai. More information as well as a link for online event registration can be found at www.raceforsincerehearts.weebly.com. See you there!!
We have added a second Race For Sincere Hearts in NASHVILLE! The race is Saturday, March 17th at 10AM. Please visit here for more online event information!
We have added a second Race For Sincere Hearts in NASHVILLE! The race is Saturday, March 17th at 10AM. Please visit here for more online event information!
Check out the IMPACT 2010 tab!
Due to the violence Thailand had been experiencing, I was unable to personally travel to Baan Jing Jai this summer to deliver the donations and money which we had been collecting at home in Palatine throughout the year. However, the boxes were shipped and the money was sent (thank you AGAIN to Corporate Graphics for the help with shipping). Check out the IMPACT 2010 tab at the top of the screen to see some pictures of the kids receiving the generous gifts you helped to send to them.
Nashville's 2013 Race for Sincere Hearts
The Second Annual Race for Sincere Hearts in Nashville, TN is being held Saturday, March 16th at Alumni Lawn at Vanderbilt University. Pictures will be posted after the race! For more information about the race in Nashville, including results, please visit our website.
The Second Annual Race For Sincere Hearts!!
The Second Annual 5K was held in Deer Grove Forest Preserve on Saturday May 29th. We had over 200 people come to show their support of Baan Jing Jai, and we exceeded our goal of $3000 with a net profit of $3200. Pictures will be posted here as well as the race website shortly. You may also view race results as well as last year's photos at www.raceforsincerehearts.weebly.com.
Thanks to those who Purchased an FHS T-Shirt
All proceeds went directly to Baan Jing Jai. The front read "I (heart) FHS" while the back showed a map of Illinois (with the words "Proudly representing" in both Thai and English) and a map of Thailand (with the words "proudly supporting" in both Thai and English). Some shirts are still available in the Fremd Spirit Shop.
Dunk Tank and Clothing Drive during Environmental Week at Fremd High School = A HUGE success!!
A huge thank you from myself and the children at Baan Jing Jai to Fremd's Environmental Club, who organized a week of green activities including a "recycling" of old clothes and shoes to benefit the orphanage, as well as a dunk tank fundraiser to raise money for shipping and related expenses.
Thanks to all those who came to "Movie Night"
Anoher way for Fremd students to have supported TYS, Movie Night transformed the FHS cafeteria into a one night movie theatre on March 4th, where students were welcome to bring their own sleeping bags, pillows, and blankets, as they watched "Rudy", which won the most support in the student vote througout the week of February 8th. This event raised about $300 for Thai Your Shoes. Thank you to everyone who contributed!
Thanks to all of our supporters at the Craft Fair
Thai Your Shoes hosted a table at Booster Craft Fair on March 6th. The Bridge Youth Council helped to create adorable stuffed bears, clothing, and bean-bag chairs for the event. TYS made $369 at the fair. As always, all proceeds will go directly to the children at Baan Jing Jai.
Thank You Harper Preschool!
On December 23rd, 64 handmade "Friendship Cards" were sent overseas to the children at Baan Jing Jai. The cards were crafted by the children of Harper College's Preschool Program. In addition to creating these heart-warming cards, the preschoolers sorted through their closets for summertime clothing for their new friends in Thailand. Their additional gift of nearly $350 means that Thai Your Shoes has now collected $8,000 for Baan Jing Jai. Thank you so much for all of the help Harper Preschoolers!!
Fremd High School's 2009 Homecoming Comes Through for Thai Your Shoes
This year, the Thai Your Shoes Foundation was named the beneficiery of all student council sponsored Homecoming events at Fremd High School.
This included contributions from both the junior and senior Powder Puff teams. The senior team came together to earn over $1000 and was rewarded for their outstanding efforts with prizes and a custard party, all donated by the local Culvers at 1410 E. Algonquin Rd. in Schaumburg.
Ticket sales from the Powder Puff game as well as the AAG (Almost Anything Goes) competitions also benfitted Thai Your Shoes and amounted to nearly $2000.
Culvers was also generous enough to dye their custard sandwiches green and gold in honor of the Fremd football team. They gave 500 of these sandwhiches to Thai Your Shoes at a greatly reduced price so that they could be sold at the Fremd Homecoming football game, with all proceeds going to support Baan Jing Jai. Custard sales and donations amounted to an additional $600.
The annual Pep Assembly's Pie in the Face competition earned another $100, and student council donated a portion of the Homecoming Dance ticket sales to Thai Your Shoes as well.
This included contributions from both the junior and senior Powder Puff teams. The senior team came together to earn over $1000 and was rewarded for their outstanding efforts with prizes and a custard party, all donated by the local Culvers at 1410 E. Algonquin Rd. in Schaumburg.
Ticket sales from the Powder Puff game as well as the AAG (Almost Anything Goes) competitions also benfitted Thai Your Shoes and amounted to nearly $2000.
Culvers was also generous enough to dye their custard sandwiches green and gold in honor of the Fremd football team. They gave 500 of these sandwhiches to Thai Your Shoes at a greatly reduced price so that they could be sold at the Fremd Homecoming football game, with all proceeds going to support Baan Jing Jai. Custard sales and donations amounted to an additional $600.
The annual Pep Assembly's Pie in the Face competition earned another $100, and student council donated a portion of the Homecoming Dance ticket sales to Thai Your Shoes as well.
Conclusion 2008-09
Events and projects from the first year of the Thai Your Shoes foundation were an amazing success! Thai Your Shoes owes a lot of gratitude to several key groups and individuals whose time and generosity were truly at the heart of every success over the course of this past year. The first annual Race For Sincere Hearts 5K run raised and contributed $2500 for Baan Jing Jai in May. A huge thank you to Victoria Moroney for all of your hard work with that event. Also, much appreciation to Service Over Self Club at Fremd High School, which collected nearly 200 pairs of shoes, as well as clothing, school supplies, and toys for each of the kids.
A very special thank you to Larry Wagner and Corporate Graphics, for sponsoring the costly international shipping, which allowed the children to receive all of the wonderful toys and clothing collected here, in Palatine last year. To see more photos of the children receiving these wonderful donations, please check out the "Impact" tab above.