Saipan Tribune donates $2,000 to 5 non-profits

Julie Pagcaliwagan, treasurer of Autism Society of the CNMI, receives the donation from the Saipan Tribune team and Tan Holdings Corp. comptroller Judy Mendieta. (SAIPAN TRIBUNE)

In the spirit of giving during the holidays, Saipan Tribune, along with advertising supporters, donated a total of $2,000 to five nonprofit groups in the CNMI last Dec. 30.

For the start of what hopefully will become a yearly tradition, $400 was given to each of the first five nonprofits that benefited from the “Give Love on Christmas Day” supplement project.

The non-profits were the Boonie Babies Saipan, Saipan Cares for Animals, CNMI Center for Living Independently, Friends of the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library, and the Autism Society of the CNMI.

The Autism Society of the CNMI helps increase awareness about this developmental disorder, which affects how a person perceives and socializes with others, and serves as a resource for parents who may be in the dark as to what autism spectrum disorder is.

Romeo Cuellar said, “On behalf of the Autism Society of the CNMI we’d like to thank you [and everyone] for all the love and support from the community. Blessings!”

Boonie Babies Saipan provides access to animal-related resources and relocating animals out of the CNMI with the end goal of reducing the stray dog and cat population on the islands. More importantly, the group aims to foster respect for animal life by increasing awareness through education.

Grace Keilbach from Boonie Babies Saipan said, “All donations we receive are put toward providing daily care for our current fosters, our spay and neuter efforts, and flights for boonies to the [United] States. As we plan to have an upcoming flight at the end of January 2023, we will be putting the money donated by Saipan Tribune toward that. We are hoping to send about 20 boonie rescues stateside.”

SCA’s two-pronged mission is to provide low-cost veterinary services and reduce the stray animal overpopulation in the CNMI through spaying and neutering dogs and cats. SCA accomplishes this by adopting out animals that have been sterilized. In addition, SCA offers spay and neuter services, which are provided by visiting volunteer veterinarians that SCA recruits. Empowering people in the CNMI to care for their pets is the group’s second goal and to meet this, they provide education about pet care and when they need to be taken to SCA.

Grace Kielbach of Boonie Babies Saipan with the Saipan Tribune team and Tan Holdings Corp. comptroller Judy Mendieta. (SAIPAN TRIBUNE)

Susan Satur, executive director of the Center for Living Independently in the CNMI, receives the donation from the Saipan Tribune team.
(SAIPAN TRIBUNE)

Saipan Cares for Animals director Beth Pliscou receives the donation from the Saipan Tribune team. (SAIPAN TRIBUNE)

Friends of the Joeten Kiyu Public Library team receives the donation from the Saipan Tribune team. (SAIPAN TRIBUNE)

“We are thankful for this donation and every single donation we receive because that is the only way we can stay open,” said SCA director Elizabeth Pliscou.

The CNMI Center for Living Independently is a non-profit agency dedicated toward ensuring the rights of people with disabilities to live fully integrated into the community with equal opportunities and choices in life.

Susan Satur from the CNMI Center for Living Independently said, “It will go on an adventure in the community. We are still voting either at the movies or a restaurant. They are so excited.”

As for the Friends of the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library, it is a non-profit that was organized to promote the continuous existence and effectiveness of the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library. The group holds several fundraising events yearly, including book sales with proceeds used to fund different library activities.

“On behalf of the Friends of the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library, we are truly honored and grateful to be a recipient of Saipan Tribune’s yearly tradition of “Give Love on Christmas. …These much-needed funds will help in providing free library programs and services for our entire community…which are sponsored by the Friends of the JKPL. We continue to thrive, thanks in part to funding support from donors such as yourself…,” said Martin Naputi.

Saipan Tribune thanks the following businesses for their support of this project: Aqua Resort Saipan, Bank of Guam, Brabu Pharmacy, Century Insurance Company, CNMI Museum of History and Culture, Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan, Dial-Rent-to-Own, Fujiaire, CNMI Office of the Governor, Hyatt Regency Saipan, Island Skin Solutions, IT&E CNMI, Joeten Enterprises, Kilili for Congress, Lollipops/Girl Talk, Marianas Coffee, Marianas Fast Food, MG Mall, Namaste Beautiful Salon and Spa, Office of Governor/Lt. Governor Elect, Office of Sen. Jude Hofschneider, Office of the Mayor of Saipan, P&A Corp., Rep. Angel Demapan, Saipan Shipping Co., Shirley’s Coffee Shop, Triple J Saipan, TSL Foundation, and Wushin.