2018 Green Gala a sold-out success

Gold’s Gym goes strong for MINA with general manager Tyce Mister, Gold’s management team, and MINA Tasi Watch rangers. (MINA)

The 6th Annual 2018 Green Gala held Friday evening at the Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan sold out all tickets, presented awards to prominent environmentalists, raised funds for MINA’s many programs, and still managed to throw a fun party at the Hibiscus Hall—an all-around roaring success, according to both the executive director and the board chair of the organization.

All 200 tickets for the party were sold, said MINA executive director Roberta Guerrero.

“The turnout was good. There was issue with the weather tonight. I know there is a power outage in other parts of the island, so I think it is hampering the people’s ability to turn up early. We have got a great turnout and we are happy to see everybody coming in,” Guerrero said.

The theme for Friday night’s Green Gala was the International Year of the Reef. “That is why the décor is all ocean-themed and we wanted to highlight that,” Guerrero added.

“We have been seeing a lot of coral bleaching due to climate change and rising temperatures of our oceans. We are also seeing massive storms throughout the Atlantic Ocean all the way through the Pacific Ocean, which are all caused by climate change,” Guerrero added.

MINA program manager Becky Furey told Saipan Tribune in a previous interview that the aim of the party was to raise funds to finance the operation of the organization, which advocates for the conservation and preservation of the environment.

The MINA leadership, including the board chair Frances Castro, noted that Friday night’s turnout was significant.

“We are sold out every year and people trickle in between 7pm and 8pm… the place is packed, everyone is having a good time, and they know that it is just a celebration for the environment,” Castro told Saipan Tribune.

The MINA board chairwoman believes that the support of the community originates from the projects of MINA, which include several beach cleanups, research assistance, and even community education.

“I believe MINA is the only group in the CNMI that really does a lot of work to protect the environment, so I am happy that people really embrace it,” she said.

Guerrero said the amount raised at the Green Gala would be disclosed once the environment organization finalizes the numbers.