‘Club 200 fundraiser is a way to help NMI families’

With some people still living in tents or in homes that have yet to be fully repaired, the American Red Cross-NMI Chapter is making sure that they serve as a “bridge of assistance” to these families, especially during times when CNMI is hit by strong storms.

“A lot of people are still living in homes that haven’t been fully repaired so when we do get a strong storm, particularly heavy rain, it is really impacting those families right there,” said ARC-NMI Chapter executive director John Hirsh.

“If we can provide just a little bit of help, bridge assistance for those families, then we’re going to do it,” he added.

To maintain a strong presence in the CNMI, Red Cross counts on fundraising events, such as the Club 200 fundraiser that is happening this Saturday, Nov. 9, from 6pm to 10pm, at the Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan in Garapan.

“Hopefully, we will be able to meet our fundraising goals. It really allows us to have a strong Red Cross office here, which, in turn, can help our people when they really need it, like they did during Yutu, during [Typhoon] Soudelor,” Hirsh said.

And American Red Cross assistance is not just for catastrophic typhoons. The group was also able to help in the wake of two typhoons, Hagibis and Bualoi, that hit the islands last month.

“Hagibis caused a little bit of damage, the winds were a little bit strong, but then the second storm that came through wasn’t as bad,” said Hirsh. “We were able to help a handful of families that needed it, mostly on Saipan, but there were a couple of families over at Tinian that we helped as well.”

Aside from enjoying a night of dancing, Club 200 participants would also have a chance to win prizes, including a 2019 Toyota RAV4LE, roundtrip United Airlines tickets to the U.S., roundtrip tickets on Skymark to Japan, and a roundtrip ticket from Asiana Airlines to anywhere in the world where the airline flies.

This year’s Club 200, themed “Latin Nights,” celebrates the diversity of all the countries in Latin America. There will be a salsa and costume contests, as well as other fun activities.

Tickets are $100 for general admission and $150 for VIP tickets, and are available at all Joeten locations, Herman’s Bakery, AK Toyota, or call the chapter at 234-3459 for a list of sellers near you.