SLLB to benefit from Mariana Resort event

Saipan Little League Baseball, Inc. will be the beneficiary of proceeds from “Marpi Carnival” that Mariana Resort and Spa Saipan will hold in April this year in celebration of its 37th anniversary.

“As part of our 37th anniversary celebration, our company will be hosting a carnival on April 11 for our island-wide communities,” Mariana Resort’s Charlene Babauta said. “We would like to invite all interested groups and organizations to participate in the carnival by operating a game booth or food/drinks booth for this worthwhile cause as fees collected from the organizations will be donated to Saipan Little League Baseball.”

SLLBI president Ben Jones met with the carnival organizers to discuss their partnership and expressed the league’s gratitude to Mariana Resort.

“We’re very happy and grateful that they decided to choose Saipan Little League Baseball as beneficiary of their event. Their donations are highly appreciated as we will use them in the program’s operational cost,” Jones told Saipan Tribune in a telephone interview.

Babauta when asked why they picked SLLB, she said they have the youth in mind.

“We enjoy supporting our youth as we have always contributed to our schools the past years. And this year, we decided that we want our youth to play a bigger role in the celebration of our 37th year of serving the CNMI. Thus, this celebratory event offers all other youth organizations and groups the opportunity to raise funds,” Babauta said.

“After being approached by several members of the league for donations and sponsorship for a team and learning that there will be at least a couple of big events that the Little League will be participating in, such as the Regional and the World Series, we discussed it during our management meeting and decided that we will give them our support. In addition, we also sponsored one team, the As Matuis Twins,” she added.

Babauta said groups wishing to open booths for games will only pay $25, while food/drinks booth’s space is only for $50. Fees also include 10 percent of the group’s revenue.

Interested groups are encourage to have boots as the carnival will coincide with the 3rd Annual HANMI Go-Kart Race that is expected to draw a lot of participants and spectators. This year’s race will be more exciting, as organizers said Mariana Resort Seaside Circuit just bought six new fast-speed karts.

Besides the carnival and go-kart race, Mariana Resort will also hold the “Battle of the Bands” and a golf tournament as part of its anniversary activities. Entry fee for the “Battle of the Bands” is only $20 with the champion winning $1,000 and $500 and $250 going to the second and third placers, respectively. For the golf tournament, which will be held on April 12, proceeds will also be donated to SLLB.

For more information, contact Babauta at charlene.babauta@gmail.com or Roquita Norita at kitnorita@gmail.com and for the go-kart race inquiries, contact Carlos Rivera at carlos_rivera@centuryhotel-spn.com or Lito Parulan at lito.parulan@marianaresort.com.