McDonald’s, NMA provide opportunities to youth

McDonald’s Middle Road branch manager Joe Ayuyu Jr., right, hands over the $3,000 check donation to Northern Marianas Athletics president Ramon A. Tebuteb during last Wednesday’s presentation. (Jon Perez)

Northern Marianas Athletics president Ramon A. Tebuteb said the over a decade partnership between their association and the local McDonald’s franchise has provided countless opportunities for the CNMI’s young athletes.

Athletes who are products of the annual McDonald’s/Public School System All Schools Track and Field Championships are given chances to compete, not only at the local level but also at the international scene.

“Our affiliation with the International Association of Athletics Federations and the Oceania Athletics Association provides opportunity and access to our aspiring athletes to rub elbows and compete with elite professional athletes from around the world,” Tebuteb told Saipan Tribune.

He added that the local McDonald’s franchise has been one of the consistent supporters of their youth development program, even when the NMA was still known as the Northern Mariana Islands Track and Field Federation.

“They are our most consistent supporter even way before we began our official partnership in 2005. Like most non-profit organization that volunteers tirelessly to the program, the NMA is in debt to McDonald’s Saipan for their generosity and unselfish contribution to our athletes,” said Tebuteb.

“I can only express our strongest gratitude and sincerest appreciation to McDonald’s Saipan for more than a decade of strong commitment to our all athletes, coaches, and sports family.”

PSS athletics program director Nick Gross also thanked the local McDonald’s food chain for being a staunch supporter of the annual track and field event for 14 years. “On behalf of PSS, I would like to commend McDonald’s for their unwavering support.”

“This annual CNMI-wide athletics event has helped our community focus on the promotion of public health through access to fitness in competitive format facilitated by the NMA,” Gross said.

He added that the continuous support given by McDonald’s has allowed thousands of the local youth to be part of a competitive track and field event every year.

“The [All Schools] has been a model partnership between the NMA, PSS, and local McDonald’s franchise and it has grown into a wonderful community event. I’d also like to thank NMA for its hard work every year to continually provide this opportunity to the CNMI youth.”