Ayuda Network appeals for corporate, business donations

The Ayuda Network, an alliance of CNMI human and social service providers, is asking private businesses in the Commonwealth to keep them in mind this holiday season as it continues to request for donations to keep its yearlong services going.

Ayuda Network executive director Diane Camacho appeals to the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation for additional funding for fiscal year 2015 during a SNILD session last week on Capital Hill. (Mark Rabago)

Executive director Diane Camacho said even though they were successful in getting an additional $18,000 from the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation last week, the amount is still not enough to cover all its needs.

“We’ve really coming up to this House chamber for the SNILD to request additional funding because based on our funding for [fiscal year] 2015 we’re only accorded $17,800 and that’s strictly for operations. We can’t operate our office without personnel staff so we’re asking at least $18,000 to cover all our personnel.”

Last Wednesday, the delegation appropriated the minimum $18,000 Ayuda Network requested under House Local Bill 18- 18-64, D1, which allocated $387,000 for various projects and activities on Saipan. The money came from poker licenses and fees.

Camacho said Ayuda Network actually submitted a budget request for $70,000 for fiscal year 2015. However, the government gave it only $17,800. The agency is an independent program under the Governor’s Office.

“We’re trying to get federal funding and corporate or business donations to help us out with our activities throughout the year. The only way we can move forward is through donations. We’re asking for donations not necessarily to cover our personnel but to carry out the activities we’re having throughout the year and this is month to month from January to November,” added Camacho.

As if the limited budget wasn’t enough, Camacho and her staff also has to deal with power problems at their office beside the Mount Carmel Cathedral in Chalan Kanoa.

“One day we called CUC [Commonwealth Utilities Corp.] because there were sparks outside and when CUC came and investigated…they had to shut the power down. It’s been going on for at least a week and a half and we’re still stationed in the conference room right next door to our office. There’s power there and that’s where we moved in and we just dragged our landlines, Internet connection, and fax machine so we can continue serving,” she said.

Ayuda Network is the umbrella organization of all human and social service agencies in the CNMI. Some its members include the Commonwealth Cancer Association, Commonwealth Diabetes Coalition, Non-Communicable Disease Bureau Alliance, Let’s Move Marianas, the Family Non-Violence Task Force, Northern Marianas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence, American Red Cross, Mount Carmel Archdiocese, Grace Christian Ministries, Division of Youth Services, and Division of Public Health, among others.