SEMINYAK – BALI, INDONESIA, November 26, 2009: Supporters of the Padang Earthquake school building recovery effort, turned up to Gado Gado Restaurant, Seminyak, Bali, on Thursday, November 26th, 2009, to bid on aquarelle paintings crafted by Balinese schoolchildren aged five to eight, entitled “Karyaku Untuk Sahabat2” – or My Creation for Friends, specifically made to benefit elementary school kids victimized by the devastating Padang, Sumatra earthquake. The theme of the paintings was Indonesian Reefs. A website featuring the paintings, was set up by Reefcheck Foundation Indonesia, where online bidding commenced prior to the event.

At the Charity Benefit evening, over 100 guests enjoyed a four course meal by Chef Quibb, whilst bidding on the colorful paintings between the four courses. The sixteen A3 sized paintings were auctioned by Jack Daniels of Bali Discovery Tours, who assisted in raising over 55million rupiah for the paintings alone.

Other funds were raised through the auction of luxury hotel, dinner, cruise and spa packages, kindly donated by Sofitel Seminyak, The Four Seasons Resorts, and Anantara Bali, Additional door prizes included Bali Hai Cruises ,dance lessons from Jive Studio, eye wear by Oakley, shopping voucher packages by Surfer Girl, and a personally autographed canvas print of recording artist Oppie Andaresta, which fetched the highest bid in the auction, at 12 million rupiah. Children’s clothing was donated by Flowers for Zoe.

Entertainment at the dinner included the traditional Sumatran Tari Piring dance, by the Natrabu Padang Bali Community, songs by teenage international performers from the Bali Soda School of Dramatic Arts, a ballet number by young dancers from The Dance Company, and a Jive & American Swing demonstration by Australian guest dancer Davis Richardson, with Dance Co. instructor, Tasha Allanya. Master of Ceremony was surf legend Tipi Jabrik.

The headline act of the evening, was a concert by Padang native Oppie Andaresta, and musical friends Rio Sidik (Saharadja) on trumpet, Barok on Sitar, Adjat on percussion, and guest guitarist Richie. Oppie performed five songs, amongst others, her latest Top 10 hit on the Indonesian charts, Single and Happy, a rendition of Waiting in Vain, and a song written for her son Kai Bejo, entitled Ocean and Sun (Kai Matahari).

At the end of the evening, over 89million rupiah was raised, which will be channeled through the Sanari Foundation, to support the educational recovery of elementary school children; fix damaged school infrastructures, and provide educational material. Each guest ticket purchased a schoolkit for the Padang students, within which were a backpack, schoolbooks, pencils, pens and other tools.

The event was wholly supported by Alpatra Productions, The Yak Magazine, Gado Gado Restaurant, Coca-Cola for Bali Program, and sponsored by Pro Motion Events and Reefcheck Foundation Indonesia.