Birthday Fundraising Project 2006
Ken-Friends Bookmark	In 2006 the Ken-Friends used their fundraising activity to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the release of Kenneth Branagh's film Hamlet. The design and production of a bookmark allowed us to send $3,275 US to Project Shakespeare, which will use the money to take a group of Catholic and Protestant children from Northern Ireland to Stratford in February to see a production of The Merry Wives of Windsor with Dame Judi Dench.
Here is Kenneth Branagh's thank-you note:
"I was particularly touched by the huge generosity of all the Ken Friends on the occasion of my 46th Birthday. Not only is the sum (once again), a staggering amount, but the recipient, PROJECT SHAKESPEARE, is a fine group doing excellent work. I met Cindy and lots of young people enjoying their first trip to the theatre, 15 years ago. They had come to see us perform 'Hamlet' at the Barbican, and so the connection with the tenth anniversary of the film version, and the tremendous ongoing efforts of this group, is apt and personal for me. It has also been a rare and moving treat to read of all the different accounts of reactions to the film. Although we all know that Shakespeare is responsible for this, I was overwhelmed to know how much this particular version had meant to so many of my friends and supporters. I am very much hoping that after such a long time the full length DVD version will finally be available in the coming year. Thank you all for your friendship, Ken Branagh" Back to the Birthday Project page