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The 15th edition of the American School of Doha’s Friendship Festival, which was expected to raise up to QR400,000, was held at the school premises yesterday.
The money raised at the event will be spent on “programme enhancement in support of the school”, PTA president Laura Ford told reporters.
The event, which featured live entertainment, games, stalls selling various goods, food outlets, was being presented by the school’s Parent Teacher Association (PTA) under the chairmanship of Inge Hansen.
“Each year, we host this event to raise funds for the school and we have been able to collect an average of QR350,000 a year,” Hansen said. “We hope to exceed that figure this year.”
She said that funds raised in the past had been spent to build a performing arts annex building including a music room and a theatre.
“Last year, we were also able to buy musical instruments such as ukulele for middle school students and also sponsored a visiting programme,” Ford recalled.
However, she said it was yet to be decided which specific projects the bulk of the money to be raised at this year’s event would be spent on.
“We need to determine the most important needs of the school before investing the money.”
According to Ford, up to 16 food vendors and about 100 outlets selling items ranging from clothes to handmade jewelleries, interior and home decor, traditional items, paintings, meteorite fragments and hair accessories, featured at the event which was visited by more than 5,000 people.
American School of Doha (ASD) director Deb Welch commended the volunteers’ efforts for organising the event.
ASD board of director chair William Cattan also expressed gratitude to the PTA for organising events to help the school and celebrate the ASD community.
Highlight of the event was a “silent auction” where items like gift hampers, home decor and jewelleries, donated by local vendors, were on offer for sale from QR60-600.
The ASD chamber singers, the school choir and musical bands entertained visitors.
The event was sponsored by: commemorative level -Maersk Oil Qatar AS; diamond level - ConocoPhilips Qatar, ExxonMobil Qatar; platinum level - Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, Occidental Petroleum of Qatar, Reshi, Schlumberger Oilfield Services, Chevron Qatar Energy Technology, RasGas; gold level - ChevronPhillips; silver level - Galfar Al Misnad Engineering; bronze level - Dr Sarah Specialist Dental Centre, Family Dental Clinic; and VIP lounge sponsor - Renaissance Doha City Center Hotel.