Latte Training Academy contributes to disaster relief

The Latte Training Academy, Inc. donated over $2,500 in water to Saipan residents over the course of the past week. Saipan residents who arrived at various water company locations last week were given $10 worth of water or ice paid for by the organization. Water was also donated and distributed in partnership with other non-profit organizations across the island.

“We didn’t want to create additional logistical problems with all the relief efforts going on, so the board of directors authorized a disbursement of funds directly to the various water companies across the island. We asked that when their customers arrived, they were provided $10 toward their total purchase. We understood that at the onset of the relief efforts, water and fuel were the two most pressing needs. As such, we opted to aid in the provision of water to families across the island,” said Latte Training Academy board secretary Tina Palacios.

Those residents who didn’t have transportation or live in hard to reach locations were provided water through the work of the recently established non-profit organization, United 4 Saipan.

“We certainly appreciate and support the work of United 4 Saipan. We hope to continue to work with them throughout the recovery period and beyond. The hard work of Ms. Jenny Hegland and the rest of United 4 Saipan team is something that we recognize and appreciate,” said LTA president John Blanco.

The Latte Training Academy, a non-profit that focuses on workforce development, also plans on providing additional aid once students return to school. The aid may come in the form of school supply vouchers at the local retailers or a direct cash contribution to the CNMI Public School System.

“While we cannot provide a substantial cash contribution relative to the needs of the island and school system as a whole, we take the approach that every little bit helps. We will gladly help in any way we can, but we want to ensure that we support our mission and our existing partners. As PSS is a key partner to the Latte Training Academy, we certainly want to do all we can to support them,” said LTA board member Erick Van Der Maas.

The Latte Training Academy recently announced a series of initiatives that it will implement in the coming year, including the launching of their Founders Scholarship Program, which will award $10,000 in college scholarships to Latte Training Academy participants for the 2015-2016 school year. Additionally, the Latte Training Academy will begin offering allied health courses to further their mission of regional workforce development.

“We are excited about the upcoming year. Although our community has been struck with disaster, we are a resilient community and we know that our citizens refuse to show signs of surrender. We hope to inspire and provide our youth and workforce with the support they need not only to move forward, but grow stronger from this experience” said Palacios.