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Dr. Clown signing cooperation agreement with - Dr. Clown? Confused? Read on... 

There's no denying it, hospital clowns are in the news the world over. What started as a single endeavor by US physician Dr. Hunter "Patch" Adams in 1971, has today, some 50+ years later, transformed into a  worldwide movement bringing laughter, fun and distraction to hospitalized children everywhere. Formerly motley, grass-roots civic groups have evolved into highly effective, professional non-profit organizations, working in tandem with physicians and nurses to aid children in their fight against sickness and disease. Some universities, like the University of Haifa, Israel, even offer accredited courses in Medical Clowning for those inclined to take things to the next level...

It's only natural that C4C's Dr. Clown program, the Czech Republic's first and original medical clown initiative, has transformed and evolved as well since its inception in 1999. In recent years its clowns and representatives have attended seminars, attained diplomas and exchanged notes with other organization in neighboring countries - to stay on the cutting edge of medical clowning, ensuring that hospitalized children have the best possible experience when coming in contact with C4C's clowns.

Recently, Rafal Wojas, C4C co-founder and Dr. Clown program manager, and Vanessa Gendron, Dr. Clown's art director, met with representatives of the Dr. Clown Foundation in Warsaw, Poland, to sign a cooperation agreement between these two separate entities.

Dr. Clown meets Dr. Clown - get it...? :-)

"Networking and exchanging Best Practice notes are important developments for organizations involved in medical clowning", explains Rafal. "Forming alliances with other like minded initiatives helps us to broaden our horizons and learn from each other", he elaborates. "Fortunately, we feel more like brothers in arms than competitors - we can only gain from working together and in unison."

The Polish Dr. Clown Foundation was represented by Anna Czerniak - president of the board, board member Anna Borkowska and Katarzyna Dera -  in charge of fundraising, corporate volunteering and CSR.

The first common projects were already agreed upon by the two parties:

·        the distribution of 85 pallets (that's almost half a football field !!!) of LEGO and DUPLO blocks to over 300 Polish hospitals and children wards across the country. The LEGO toys were generously donated by the popular Danish market leader and toy maker and the LEGO Foundation in Kladno, CR. Distribution is scheduled to begin in February 2015

·        an international  workshop for the clowns of both organizations will be held in Prague in 2015

·        C4C's popular Dr. Clown coloring books, created by Czech artist Romana Angelova, will be reprinted and produced in Polish for distribution in Polish hospitals

"We are thrilled and happy that our Czech counterparts, who developed C4C's Dr. Clown program there, are teaming up with us on these important projects", says Anna Cerniak, the current president of board of Dr. Clown in Poland. "It is our goal to exchange experiences and organize international workshops and seminars, which will help our Czech and Polish clowns bring more happiness and laughter to hospitalized children in our respective countries."

Last, but not least, a big, capital THANK YOU goes to those companies who have helped make the trip to Warsaw possible, namely:

·        Czech Airlines, who graciously agreed to ferry the C4C team in comfort and free of charge high above the clouds to Warsaw.

·        The CPI Hotel  Group, who provided a lavish suite for C4C's team in Warsaw during their 4 day stay and looked after their culinary needs as well in the Mamaison Hotel Le Regina & Residence Diana.

And this article wouldn't be complete without giving special credit to the incredible folks from LEGO, who are taking the concept of CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) to a whole new level! Partnering with C4C's Dr. Clown program, the toy giant from Denmark has, by virtue of their gifts of LEGO and DUPLO blocks, helped thousands of kids (in literally every hospital in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and in future Poland as well), to better adjust to the strange hospital environment they find themselves in and take their minds off their sicknesses! Come February, the Dr. Clown/LEGO tandem will have distributed an incredible 253 pallets of LEGO toys with a fair-market value exceeding 20 million CZK! Wow!

We couldn't have pulled this off without you, dear partners - thanks again!