Rota Casino weekend 2000

The Kolehio Foundation, a non-profit organization established to fund college scholarships and to fund projects and programs for youth will be holding its first annual “Rota Casino Weekend” fundraising event in Songsong, Rota from October 5 to the 8 at the blue Peninsula Restaurant from 5 pm to 2 am daily.

Senate President Paul A. Manglona, who is also the President of the Foundation, said: “this is the first time a fundraising event such as this has ever been held on the island of Rota. As it will coincide with the annual San Francisco de Borja Fiesta, we are anticipating a large turnout that will be fun for all.”

The inaugural “Rota Casino Weekend 2000” was conceived as a fundraising event that would raise funds for the youth while also exposing more people to the importance of doing all that we can as a community to give our young people a head start with their future.

Sen. Manglona said: “The Kolehio Foundation believes in giving the youth of today — our leaders of tomorrow — a head start on their future through support of educational and social programs that assist young people to develop their talents, broaden their horizons and become better citizens.” He added that the ultimate goal of the Foundation is “to raise enough funds to establish a permanent endowment that will not only allow us to continue existing programs, but also develop and deliver more services to more of our young people over time.”

In 1989, the Sen. Manglona and his wife Lydia began providing annual scholarship checks to the top three graduating seniors from Rota High School. In 1998, after 11 years of providing personal donations to the students of Rota, the Manglona’s formed the Kolehio Foundation as a more permanent means of ensuring that the youth of Rota would have additional sources of funding to attain their educational goals for generations to come.

Programs include scholarships for post-secondary education for the top three graduating Rota High School seniors who have been accepted to a college or university of their choice and have taken the SAT. Last year, the Foundation also began providing funding to the top JROTC students as a way to encourage leadership skills.

The Foundation is currently exploring funding opportunities that will benefit a large population of primary and secondary students, particularly those at risk.

“This event would not be possible without the generosity and support of many businesses and individuals who have provided advertisements and words of encouragement in a special Kolehio Foundation booklet to be published for the fiesta weekend,” the Senator said.

He also expressed the Foundation’s appreciation to the Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino for the expertise and professional dealers and monitors which they will be providing for the weekend.

The Attorney General’s rules for the issuance of gambling exemptions limits the amount of costs that a person or association can deduct for conducting such a fundraising activity to $1000. However, all proceeds raised during this event shall go directly to the Kolehio Foundation to benefit the youth.

In November of 1999, the Kolehio Foundation received a tremendous boost to its endowment efforts in the form of a $100,000 personal check from Mr. David and Anna Lujan of Guam. “We will always cherish the gracious and unselfish contributions of our dear friends from Guam,” said Sen. Manglona.