Today marks the 50th Anniversary of when the JP Patches Show first aired in Seattle.  I began to watch JP and Gertrude as a tyke many years ago and still adore them to this day.  There is a public celebration to be held on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 in Des Moines.  Read the Highlines Times for more information about JP (Chris Wedes) and the event.

2008 is a banner year for JP and Joanie as they celebrate 50-years of J.P. Patches in Seattle on Feb. 10, his 80th birthday in April and their 52nd wedding anniversary in May.

Physically challenged by a controllable blood cancer condition that requires dialysis three times a week, Wedes’ keen sense of humor and love of life remain the same.

And if he had it to do all over again, "would you be J.P. Patches one more time?" "Absolutely!"

What is also still taking place is fundraising to complete their statue.  If you’re a local Patches Pal, please consider donating to this great cause.  You can buy a Patches Pal Paver or simply send cash (they are both tax deductable).   Excess funds will benefit Childrens Hospital and I believe the JP’s statue will actually function as a piggy-bank where the contributions will also be donated to Childrens.   You just can’t go wrong!

If you love JP like I do, click his clown face on the right side of this blog and donate. Don’t be a Boris S. Wort be a Patches Pal! Photo from my 40th Birthday.

A Tip of the Hat to my MOM for giving me the heads up on the celebration for JP in Des Moines.

Hello Fellow Patches Pals!

As we all know, JP Patches will be celebrating his 50th anniversary of his television show that many of us in the Pacific Northwest watched as tikes to teens on February 10, 2008.   

There is also a statue that has been commissioned of JP and Gertrude that will eventually be in Fremont, the center of the known universe.   I believe the original plans were to unveil the statue on the 50th anniversary…I just received word from a Patches Pal that the big event (statue unveiling) is being pushed back to June.

Meanwhile…Patches Pavers are still available!  Funds are still needed (to the tune of $70k) to complete this project and any excess will be donated to Children’s Hospital.    You simply can’t go wrong!   If you click on JP’s face on the right lower side this blog, you can order your custom paver today.  I will be keeping JP’s face on my blog to help raise funds until the statue is complete or the fundraising is done (which ever comes last).    Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have the fundraising done by JP’s anniversary on February 10th?

P.S.  Patches Pavers make wonderful Valentines Gifts!  Show some love for your favorite clown.

I just received this email from Urban Sparks.  If you’re a reader of this blog, you know JP Patches is my childhood hero.   I was fortunate to have him surprise me on my birthday this year when he showed up at my home.   Fundraising is still actively taking place for the statue to honor JP and Gertrude in Fremont.  It was recently announced that JP is fighting blood cancer.  He still managed to show up at the Seattle Aqaurium to the delight of locals and do a fundraiser a few weeks ago for Channel 9 (our public television station).

I have added a link on the left side of Mortgage Porter so you can easily donate any  amount you would like or purchase a Patches Paver.  This link featuring this handsome clown will remain until we have enough funds raised to complete JP and Gertrude’s statue.  Still looking for last minute Christmas Gifts?  A Patches Paver is the perfect present for Patches Pals!   

View photos from when the statue model was unveiled at Fremont earlier this year.

Hi Patches Pals,

Let’s boost JP’s and Gertrude’s spirits for the Holidays.  They still boost spirits all year round and they’ve done it for 50 years!  Think of the joy they’ve brought you.

Let’s give them a boost for the holidays; let’s finish the statue fundraising now, before the end of the year, so they can dance around it in early 2008.

J.P. and Gertrude still give to community by making increasingly-rare public appearances that touch kids of all ages.  And they do it with clown makeup.  As sweet as Gertrude is and as dedicated as she is to winning J.P.’s heart, she’s pretty tired of putting her face on and washing it off again before bedtime. 

This year, J.P. and Gertrude have worked extra hard with a team of “youngsters” at NATAS-NW and Urban Sparks to support the gift of the statue to generations of grownup kids and to generations of kids that they hope will get to grow up after spending time at Children’s Hospital. 

They know that they can live long beyond their mortal lives as role models of humor, kindness, and generosity and they know that the donations that the ICU2TV will collect for years to come will help Children’s Hospital serve kids who need more than a good laugh.  So they’re ignoring their advanced ages and pushing on to support this effort – not for ego but for their love of kids. 

Depending on whether you were 7 years old in 1958 or 1981, J.P. and Gertrude are 23 to 46 years older than you.  Think about that for a moment.  Let’s cut ‘em some slack….

Chris Wedes and Bob Newman and say “Thank you from all of the kids who teamed up to honor J.P. Patches and Gertrude.  Together we made bronze.  You can relax now and stand forever.”

…If we go beyond bronze and raise extra money, that extra money will go to J.P.’s favorite charity – Children’s Hospital.  So we can’t go wrong.  No need to pull your pie!  Donate here

Please help push this fundraising effort over the top right now so we can finish the statue and give J.P. and Gertrude the recognition they so richly deserve.  Then join them at the unveiling in 2008.

Thanks so much. Your Patches Pals at:

NATAS Northwest and Urban Sparks

P.S.  Here is a recent article on J.P.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/338485_patches06.html

See the Mayor of the City Dump get honored by

Seattle’s Mayor and City Council:

(Fast forward to 10 minutes.)

http://www.seattlechannel.org/videos/video.asp?ID=2020745