AK, BOG are latest sponsors of Mini Games

Bank of Guam management hands over a check worth $25,000 to Mini Games Organizing Committee CEO Vicente “Ben” Babauta while other members of the organizing committee look on last Friday at the BOG branch in Garapan.(LEIGH GASES)

Last Thursday, Atkins Kroll Saipan turned over a check worth $55,000 that made them a gold sponsor for the Northern Marianas Pacific Mini Games 2022. Then a day later on Friday, Bank of Guam donated $25,000 making them a silver sponsor for the quadrennial event the CNMI will be hosting for the first time ever from June 17 to 25 this year.

Present at the Atkins Kroll showroom during the presentation were Mini Games Organizing Committee chair Marco Peter and CEO Vicente “Ben Babauta as well as Atkins Kroll general manager Joel Lesh and sales manager Kevin Barnes.

“We’re very honored to be able to support. It’s our 55th year in the community. It’s our 55th anniversary. What better way for us to be able to give back than to support somebody that’s doing so much not just for our island, but for the whole Pacific region and bringing everybody together… We’re proud to be gold sponsors for your event,” said Barnes.

Peter thanked Atkins Kroll and said “on behalf of our community, we thank you very much for your support… I want to thank you again, for this great contribution whether it’s $55,000 or $1,500… We’re well within the budget, but then there’s a few more projects that we need to accomplish outside of our budget. So this would really help us to expedite everything that needs to be done for us to deliver the Games.”

Mini Games Organizing Committee chair Marco Peter holds the $55,000 check turned over by Atkins Kroll general manager Joel Lesh. The two are joined in the photo by MGOC CEO Vicente “Ben” Babauta and the rest of the Atkins Kroll sales team. (LEIGH GASES)

In a separate interview, Barnes said with Atkins Kroll Saipan celebrating its 55th year, they will continue to give back to the community in many different ways such as Halloween events, sponsoring bus stops, beach cleanups, and other ways to stay active in the community. Recently, the auto-dealership hosted a free drive-thru Easter event also in celebration of their anniversary.

At the Bank of Guam donation in their Garapan branch last Friday, Peter wasn’t present so Babauta thanked BOG on his and the committee’s behalf.

“That amount obviously will take us a long way as a host. We are responsible for the accommodation, transportation, and catered meals. So, it’s gonna go a long way for our visiting athletes and also our national team and Bank of Guam will be definitely be recognized as our silver sponsor, and big si yu’us ma’ase and aloomway from the team. Thank you so much.”

Marcie M. Tomokane, BOG CNMI regional manager, said “BOG is always sponsoring events in the CNMI—the community that we serve. We are so privileged to do this especially when it comes to sports. We’re happy to help, especially to bring together all the countries from different places in the Pacific, for sports. We do support a lot in our community.”