$7K raised in Mariana Resort Carnival

A total of $7,000 was raised during Mariana Resort and Spa’s 37th Anniversary Marpi Carnival held last April 11 as a fundraising event for the Saipan Little League Baseball, Inc.

Mariana Resort and Spa general manager Gloria Cavanagh, fifth right, hands over a check to Saipan Little League Baseball Inc. president Ben Jones last Friday at the Mariana Resort and Spa lobby. (Jon Perez)

Mariana Resort and Spa general manager Gloria Cavanagh and other hotel staff presented the check to SLLBI president Ben Jones Sr., who was accompanied by other officials and volunteers of the Little League program.

Jones said officials, volunteers, and all teams that are playing in the 2015 SLL season are grateful for the generous donation made by Mariana Resort.

“This will go a long way for our kids. Now, I have to sit down with the Saipan Little League board to discuss what to do with the money,” said Jones.

Jones added the money would likely be used by the Saipan All-Star team to augment the cost of their trip to the CNMI District tournament to be hosted by Rota.

However, there were reports that Rota and Tinian failed to renew their respective Little League charters.

If Rota and Tinian failed to field a team, Saipan would represent the CNMI in the 2015 Asia Pacific and Middle East regional tournament to be held at the Guangzhou Huaxia Technical College in Guangzhou, China.

Cavanagh also thanked all who donated and participated in the fundraising event, which was Mariana Resort’s way of giving back to the community that had supported them for the past 37 years.

She added the donation is their way of giving back to the community that had supported them for the past 37 years.

The event raised more than $6,000, which were proceeds from the carnival and golf tournament, but Mariana Resort rounded up the amount to $7,000.

Delta Airlines, Joeten Motors, Pacific Insurance, Nike, Marpac, Charles Cepeda of Pacific Trading Co., D&Q Saipan, Coca-Cola, Mobil, Ben Babauta of the Tournament of Champions, Rick Kautz of Kautz Glass, Korea Hardware, Fiesta Resort and Kanoa Resort, Hyat Regency Saipan, JET Holding Co., Pacific Islands Club Saipan, QQ Car Rental, Takagi and Associates, T-Galleria, and Fred Salabeya are some of the sponsors of the event.

Mariana Resort and Spa property manager Charlene Babauta, Mariana Country Club operations manager Palik Thomson and Lito Parulan, chef William Retardo and staff Robert Bansil joined Cavanagh in the check presentation.

SLLBI secretary Piding Tenorio and statistician A.J. Murig were also present.