NMIVA to get support from Canaries

While all of the athletic organizations in the CNMI are actively looking to find funds for the upcoming 6th Micronesian Games, the Northern Mariana Islands Volleyball Association is getting help from a flock of little birds.

The youngsters of Betty Miller’s fifth graders class will be acting out to reel in some much needed cash for the bumpers, setters, and spikers this Saturday, April 8, when they put on a skit entitled “The Micro Games That Almost Weren’t” at 10am at the San Vicente Elementary School.

Gov. Benigno Fitial and Lt. Gov. Tim Villagomez are among the characters being portrayed in this weekend’s performance by the 9-11-year-old budding thespians, and a number of other prominent members of the community will be included as well.

Aside from the skit, NMIVA will also stand to gain from the proceeds of one of the San Vicente Family Fun Day’s booths as Teresa Miller will be joined by members of the beach and indoor teams offering lessons and tips from the island’s best.

Eighty-percent of the proceeds from Teresa Miller’s booth will go directly to the volleyball team while and 100-percent of whatever the children collect from the audience after the skit goes to the CNMI’s top beach and indoor volleyball teams.

According to Miller, the kids at San Vicente Elementary have already begun to raise funds for the Games by donating their spare change at school.

So far, she said that the kids in her fifth grade class have amasses more than $20 in pennies, nickels, and dimes in just the past few weeks, and they are looking to do more when they donate handmade artwork to the housing facilities that will facilitate the more than 1,300 athletes this summer.

“We just want to give the athletes a little touch of home,” said Miller.

Miller said they also intend to spread the word about the need for community support for the quadrennial event and plan to register volunteer to help with this summer’s hosting of the Micro Games.

“We have 704 students, and that’s 300-some people that will know that we need their help,” said Miller.

San Vicente Family Fun Day gets started at 9am this Saturday and wraps up at 4pm. There will be a number of activities on hand for all who show, and Miller added that those interested in pitching in need not stay all day.

“If they just want to drop by and give a donation that’s great too,” she said.