MGA joins drive to help elementary schools

The Marianas Golf Association joined other local organizations that are throwing their support to the community, which is on the road to recovery after being pummeled by Typhoon Soudelor last month.

MGA secretary Geri Dela Cruz said the idea came up during a meeting of their officers last Wednesday to discuss their upcoming Ace of the Month.

“MGA always talks about how we can give back to the community. We’ve done it in other ways such as assisting NMC (Northern Marianas College) with the golf tournament since the proceeds benefits education of our only post secondary institution here in the CNMI,” Dela Cruz told Saipan Tribune.

Dela Cruz said at first they were thinking of picking one school to be the recipient.

“As for the donation, we talked about how we will sacrifice all club fees paid at an ace of the month tournament, use the existing club funds to payout winners, and donate the entire amount to purchasing school supplies.”

“The next morning, [MGA vice president] Joey Dela Cruz, heard on KKMP that they were doing a drive for school supplies in that it was going to be evenly distributed to all elementary schools.”

Dela Cruz added Joey, her brother, called her the next day to inform her that a local radio station is doing a fundraising campaign to also help elementary schools.

“[Joey] called me and said, ‘Hey, KKMP is doing a school supplies drive, how about we donate on behalf of MGA to this drive instead of picking one school as a recipient.’ So I called our president, J.J. Atalig, and checked our, treasurer [James Benavente], regarding our funds and we agreed to donate $500 to this cause.”

Dela Cruz said they did not hold a special tournament for the donation and the amount was made “possible from all the members’ participation in the monthly club tournaments and their annual club membership fee.”

She added that they might have to cut back on their expenses for MGA’s year-ending banquet.

“But it’s okay. It’s for a good cause. We want every MGA member to know that it was from their participation in this club, that we as a group, made this donation to the community,” Dela Cruz ended.

MGA was established three years ago and now has 30 active members made up of young and seniors, rookies and veterans, and men and women CNMI residents who enjoy playing golf.

Atalig is MGA’s president with Joey Dela Cruz as vice president, Geri Dela Cruz as secretary, Benavente as treasurer, Chandler Deloatch as tournament director, and Jerry Ayuyu as handicap chairman.