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Will Smith gets a personal Balloonicature |
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Written by Administrator
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Monday, 30 April 2007 |
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 Inflated
ideas, a local balloon decorating company had the great pleasure of
being invited to attend the Pursuit of Happyness charity lunch which
was held on Monday 8th January ay The Dorchester London in aid of The
Prince's Trust to showcase her work to Will Smith.
Jo Uddin, who
owns the Hertfordshire based business, studied balloon artistry at
Capel Manor college back in 1999 and when she left in 2001 applied to
the Princes Trust for a £3,300 loan to help with the set up of Inflated
Ideas a balloon decorating and events business.
Jo has showcased her
talents and won gold and silver awards at numerous national and
international events traveling to places such as Amsterdam, California,
Belgium and Chicago and in 2004 alongside her partner Marc P Summers
she achieved the title International Decorator of the year.
As
a young mother of two children Jo benefited hugely from the loan
awarded by the youth charity that helps change young lives in the UK.Â
"The trust gives more than just money" says Jo, "it develops skills,
gives you confidence and the motivation to keep going when things get
tough".
Since 1976, The Prince of Wales?s charity has helped
over half a million young people and continues to support 100 more
every day. Each week The Prince's Trust has to raise £1 million that's
why fundraising events are so vital.
 The
Prince's Trust Business Start-Up Programme helps unemployed 18-30 year
olds start their own businesses by offering low interest loans to those
that have no other means of raising the capital. The Prince's Trust
also provides continued support for the first three years of trading,
endeavouring to match each young person with a volunteer Business
Mentor who provides regular advice. Since The Trust founded its
Business Programme in 1983, it has helped more than 60,000 young people
start-up in business.
Inflated ideas was one of five businesses
chosen by the trust to demonstrate their skills to Hollywood stars Will
Smith and Thandie Newton at a charity lunch held to celebrate the
premiere of 'The Pursuit of Happyness' which hits
our cinemas this Friday.
The
film depicts a young single father who struggles against life?s
difficulties to raise his son and pursue his dream in the big city.
Playing
alongside Will is his real life son Jaden who also attended the event.
With
the help of her partner Marc, Jo created a Hollywood themed area at the
Dorchester as well as a flower corsage made from wired balloons for
Thiande and a balloon caricature of Will Smith which was presented to
him when he visited Jo?s stand.
Will commented on how close a
resemblance the balloon figure had to himself and posed alongside Jo,
Marc, Jaden and his wife Jada Pinkett Smith with the 'balloonicature'.
Jo?s designs including those exhibited at this event can be found on her company website www.inflatedideas.co.uk
The
Princes Trust raised an amazing £100,000 from the lunch and London
premiere which will go towards helping new businesses nationwide. |
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