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News & Media Event calendar 24.01.2008 C4C’s Dr. Clown is Back in Town! After being notably absent from Chance 4 Children's (C4C) portfolio of programs for some time, the popular Dr. Clown is back with the help of two prominent friends and partners: Pfizer, the pharmaceutical giant with a compassionate and social streak, and the Czech National Cirkus Berousek! “We’re happy to announce, that, beginning January 2008, C4C will be featuring it’s popular Dr. Clown program again, after a hiatus of a couple of years to get it properly funded, professionalized and organized”, explains J. Rafal Wojas, Chance 4 Children Director of Operations. “After an initial period of training and seminars for the new Dr. Clown teams, we’re shooting for February to start bringing our tried and proven ‘Smile Therapy’ again to hospitalized children far and wide in the Czech Republic.” C4C’s long time partner and venue of choice, the Hilton Prague, has generously offered the complimentary use of its conference rooms, inclusive snacks and beverages, for the ongoing training seminars and meetings. The seminars are being held under the auspices and patronage of the Czech Republic’s most notable and legendary circus: the Czech National Cirkus Berousek! Says Jiri Berousek junior (who will be leading some of the training sessions): “Our cooperation with C4C and support of their many programs actually date back for many years. We are certainly happy to contribute in this way to the success of the Dr. Clown program in our country.” After the program’s successful start in 1999, Dr. Clown quickly became a household name and a much thought-after distraction and encouragement for children having to bear the trauma of prolonged hospitalization. “Our child patients and staff would like to thank you for the long term cooperation we’ve enjoyed with the Dr. Clown team”, commented Jana Vitkova, a leading child psychologist at Motol hospital in Prague, after the program was well established. “Our tasks are not only to cure the disease, but to also make sure that the children keep playing, drawing and do all the things that belong to childhood. Dr. Clown has greatly contributed to that.” However, it became apparent after some time that the program which started as a 100% volunteer effort, needed to be properly funded and professionalized to be sustainable, in order to serve affected children more reliably and regularly. After exploring available options, the idea was born to preferably accept sponsorship, for obvious reasons, from one of the major pharmaceutical companies successfully operating in the Czech Republic. Fate struck shortly after, when C4C Chairman and Director, Manfred Franke, met Eric Bossan, (at the time Pfizer’s new CEO) and Jiri Trava, Pfizer’s Corporate Affairs Director, in an informal meeting. Keenly aware and supportive of the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility, both men wholeheartedly embraced the concept of aiding hospitalized children in their recovery and consequently offered their full support and sponsorship of the program. The rest is history. Pfizer CR is now the sole financial sponsor of C4C’s Dr. Clown initiative. The company has injected a sizable annual sum into the development and implementation of the program, thereby entering into a strategic partnership with C4C to aid and assist children in their fight against sickness and disease. “It’s really great! We’re attacking the problem from both sides!”, remarks Manfred Franke, “On one hand Pfizer produces the pharmaceutical products necessary for the children to fight sickness and disease, while on the other hand, with their support of Dr. Clown, the company also actively contributes to create a wholesome and child-friendly hospital environment in which children can recover more easily. It’s a win-win situation!”
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