Bridge Capital partners with arts council for Flame Tree Festival

  Bridge Capital LLC, an international investment banking and asset management company headquartered on Saipan, is partnering with the Commonwealth Council for Arts and Culture for the 31st Annual Flame Tree Arts Festival scheduled next month.

Bridge Capital office manager/chief asset manager Allen Perez presented a $10,000 check Wednesday to Arts Council executive director Angel S. Hocog and festival committee members led by overall chair Parker Y. Yobei.

The donation boosts Bridge Capital to the highest level of sponsorship called “Pacifica,” equivalent to a major sponsor. Pacifica status is given to companies, organizations or individuals who provide monetary or in-kind sponsorship worth $5,000 or more.

“On behalf of the 31st Flame Tree Arts Festival Committee, we express our profound gratitude to Bridge Capital, particularly to Mr. John Baldwin and Shawn Scott, for their generous donation that would surely allow us to accomplish our mission to promote arts and culture through this event,” said Yobei.

Yobei, who has been organizing the festival for the Arts Council for about five years now, described Bridge Capital’s donation as “substantial” in these trying times.

“It certainly lifts a heavy financial burden on the committee’s part in our efforts to provide our community a highly anticipated program,” he told Saipan Tribune.

In addition to the monetary donation, Bridge Capital is also collaborating with the Arts Council on its 3rd Annual Art Competition. Perez said they will display the competition entries and hold the awarding ceremony at the festival.

“This year, Bridge Capital looks forward to merging its art competition and the Flame Tree Arts Festival to display your talent for the entire CNMI to see,” Perez said.

“Bridge Capital’s efforts to collaborate with the Arts Council is a great example of private and public entities working together for the sake of local arts and culture,” Arts Council executive director Hocog said.

The 31st Annual Flame Tree Arts Festival is slated for April 20 to 22 at the Civic Center Park in Susupe. For more information, visit CCAC next to the post office on Capitol Hill or call 322-9982 or 83.

A known supporter of local arts, Bridge Capital has also been making cash contributions to other non-profit and charitable organizations on the islands.