Aruneeprabha Homsettee appears on television from time to time as a commentator on issues of the day. She's also well known in academic circles for her outspokenness, having been a university lecturer and associate professor for 30 years.

Now she's devoting herself to the Thai Red Cross Society. Long a volunteer, she began working there full-time last month, primarily as deputy director for fund-raising.

Currently she's promoting "Our Souls United for His Majesty the King", which is taking place at Bangkok's Benjasiri Park tomorrow through Tuesday.

The Red Cross, Imperial Hotels Group, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and Tourism Authority of Thailand are staging the fund-raiser as a tribute to His Majesty on both his 60th anniversary as King and his birthday on Tuesday.

"The Red Cross has to raise money to support its many charity organisations, from the National Blood Centre and eye bank to the organ donation centre," says Aruneeprabha.

"Apart from the annual Red Cross Fair in March, we have to have other events and invite people and the private sector to participate."

The organisation requires billions of baht each year to continue its beneficial work. The government can only contribute so much; private donations are crucial.

"Our Souls United is expected to gather the people's support too, especially people in the Sukhumvit Road area, who don't usually get to attend the annual fair at the Royal Plaza."

The King's 72nd birthday seven years ago saw the Red Cross and Imperial Hotels Group cooperate on a similar celebratory event at Benjasiri Park.

"This year we'll have that same friendly ambience of the fair, with different kinds of stage entertainment and a concert of the King's compositions," Aruneeprabha says.

"There'll also be an art exhibition involving some famous artists, and charity raffles and the sale of selected goods and gifts, plus food from the nearby hotels. It will be a wonderful atmosphere, just like a miniature version of the Red Cross Fair."

Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, who is executive vice president of the Red Cross, will open the event tomorrow. On Tuesday at 7pm, the day the fair ends, there'll be a candlelit ceremony in the park, as there will be at Sanam Luang and across the nation, in homage to His Majesty.

Aruneeprabha knows of many ways for charity organisations to raise funds. The best way is to have contributors happily participating in events like the fair, she says.

Her background as a professor at Ramkhamhaeng University for 20 years and dean of communication arts at Sripatum University for another decade suits her perfectly to public relations.

Her first month as a full-time employee of the Red Cross Society, she says, has seen her busier than she's ever been before.

Our Souls United is just one fund-raising idea that she has in mind at the moment. There will be many more, she promises - and they'll all be fun.