Hyatt Charity Golf Classic awards five beneficiaries

The 23rd Annual Charity Golf Classic at Laolao Bay Golf & Resort’s beneficiaries namely Make-A-Wish Foundation, 500 Sails, NMI Rollers Basketball Association, Isla Montessori School, and 4H Marianas with Hyatt Regency Saipan management and staff. (Bea Cabrera)

Hyatt Regency Saipan hosted its 23rd Annual Charity Golf Classic last month at Laolao Bay Golf & Resort and last Wednesday at Giovanni’s Restaurant, $68,000 in proceeds from the event were awarded to five beneficiaries—Make-A-Wish Foundation, 500 Sails, NMI Rollers Basketball Association, Isla Montessori School, and 4H Marianas.

Hyatt general manager Nick Ishikawa said that they owe the success of the event to the community. “We have been organizing this tournament for 20 years and this is unique to Hyatt because I don’t think any other company is running an event like this for event that long.”

“Hyatt Regency Saipan is doing this because of the people on the island,” he added.

Make-A-Wish Foundation helps children below 18 with critical illness was awarded $20,000 and the Foundation’s volunteers Wendi Herring of Fiesta Resort & Spa and Jay Santos of Triple J were present to accept the check.

“This is my second year to volunteer and we are truly grateful for this….I am so impressed with your team work in putting together this amazing event,” Herring said.

Santos said that Hyatt has been a consistent contributor to the betterment of the CNMI. “Everyone is aware that Hyatt is a great company that is actively involved with our community not only with his tournament but with so many other things.”

“I think we can all support their endeavors in trying to get their lease. We need companies like Hyatt here in our community and I hope this administration can move that forward,” he added.

500 Sails is involved with preserving the maritime culture of the CNMI and providing free swimming lessons to the community was awarded $12,000. 500 Sails president Emma Perez said they are honored that the things that are doing for the community is being recognized.

Her husband and 500 Sails executive director Peter Perez said that this award came at a perfect time. “We are finishing up and at the tail end of a development grant that funded our programs and now we need to be self-sustaining… the timing of this is really good as this is want we needed,” he said.

“We are committed to improve the health of the community to hold on culture and develop lost culture through the maritime tradition and like Hyatt, we are here in the CNMI for the long haul,” he added.

Isla Montessori, which opened its doors last year, was awarded $12,000 and owner and educator Susan Book was overwhelmed with Hyatt’s support. “We are going to send some children to school now as this award will provide us with a funding that we can raise scholarships and tuition assistance to children who may not have been able to experience Montessori education like we are providing,” she said.

NMI Rollers Basketball Association is a non-profit organization that helps set up programs for the youth. Coach Joe Diaz said that the organization has been at work for 20 years now to keep the youth out of trouble.

NMI Rollers board officer Juan Dela Cruz said that the award is like an early Christmas gift.” One of our programs for this year include opening a new age group for children ages 8-10 this summer. Our home gym in Koblerville sustained some damage after Super Typhoon Yutu and with this amount we can make some changes to improve the facility in serving the commonwealth youth.”

Fifth recipient 4H Marianas makes sure to engage the youth to reach their fullest potential while advancing the field of youth development was awarded $12,000.

“I’ve been with 4H for nine years and our overall goal is to empower the youth. I started as a camper and because I was inspired by my counselors, I also I became one. Now I am the president and we will continue to have programs that helps the youth build leadership skills,” Alyssa Attao said.

Hyatt Food and Beverage director Ty Pauling thanked the sponsors, golf players and the Hyatt hotel staff and volunteers who made the tournament successful. “They are key to us getting this done and we remain with our purpose of enhancing the quality of life of those in need within our community.”