More sponsors join tomorrow’s yearend festivity

IT&E, DFS Saipan, and Coca-Cola and Foremost/Quench have joined the list of sponsors for the #MarianasSTRONG Yearend Celebration and Yutu 5K Holiday Fun Run to the Marianas tomorrow, Dec. 29.

The event will be held at Paseo de Marianas in Garapan, from 5pm to 10pm, and is jointly organized by the Marianas Visitors Authority, PDM Promoters, Japanese Society of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Japan Northern Marianas Descent Association.

As part of the fundraising for Super Typhoon Yutu relief, a raffle will be held for a Samsung Note 9 donated by IT&E. Raffle tickets will cost $5 each.

Entertainment for the night will include the annual Mochitsuki Festival, featuring the Japanese traditional pounding of rice in preparation for the new year at 5:30pm, Marianas Ukulele at 6:30pm, Saipan Music & Dance Studio at 7pm, a magic show with Neil Fama at 7:30pm, Studio 29:11 at 8pm, Alana Ia at 8:30pm, Man Antigu at 9pm, and SuSan Band at 9:30pm.

“We’re looking forward to a great celebration on Saturday and invite the community to come and enjoy the evening with us this holiday season,” said MVA Community Projects manager Martin Duenas.

The #MarianasSTRONG Yearend Celebration is intended to mark the resiliency and recovery of the Marianas following Super Typhoon Yutu in October 2018.

Activities will include food and drink sales, games, free mochi-tasting, free bouncy house for children, one free round of yoyo play, one free Saipan-da bag per child, and one free Saipan-da pencil per child, while supplies last. Coupons for games were distributed to local schools, and a limited number of additional coupons will be distributed at the MVA information booth, while supplies last. #MarianasSTRONG T-shirts and a raffle ticket for the Samsung Note 9 will be given away for each donation of $15 or more, while supplies last.

The Yutu 5K Holiday Fun Run will be held at 5pm from the pedestrian mall flagpole south along Beach Road to the Cabrera Center and back. The first 100 registrants will receive a holiday hat, and the first 100 finishers will receive a Yutu 5K Holiday Fun Run T-shirt. A special prize will be awarded for the best holiday costume. Registration opens at 4pm. Registration for the race is a $1 minimum donation, but larger donations are welcomed.

All donations will be given to Karidat Social Services and other relief organizations. Donations of canned goods, clothing, and other items are also welcome. (MVA)