Lollipops rings in the new year with an ETC donation

The Northern Marianas Trades Institute recently received a substantial donation from Lollipops Inc. in the amount of $5,000.

The contribution by one of Saipan’s longest existing toy stores is welcome news as the institute is currently working on reopening the school in phases.

The trade school received the news about the donation by Penelope Hofschneider during a recent chance meeting with NMTI chief executive officer Agnes McPhetres.

“This is Lollipops’ way of showing appreciation for what the school does in building our workforce capacity for future generations to come. The donation is our commitment to curbing the current labor crisis in the CNMI,” said Hofschneider

NMTI is scheduled to open its doors to students who were abruptly forced to stop their courses at the school at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. “NMTI has an responsibility to those students as they deserve the credits already earned and we are obliged to finish what we started. These courses remain an outstanding commitment for us as we need to close these out prior to fully transitioning over toward being a government entity,” McPhetres said.

The school, although unfunded during fiscal year 2021, is working with funds received from various sources, including a large bulk from the educational tax credits that businesses donate.

Northern Marianas Trades Institute chief executive officer Agnes McPhetres, right, receives a $5,000 educational tax credit donation from Penelope Hofschneider of Lollipops Inc.
(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

The funding received from Lollipops will be allocated toward finishing up the disrupted courses. According to Ross Manglona, director of Continuing Education, “The funds donated get us one step closer toward getting past that stagnant period caused by the shutdown. Providing hands-on training is a bit trickier financially than a regular academic program as we prepare students for real-world settings, meaning the training is deeply focused on repetitive processes.”

McPhetres reiterated the school’s gratefulness for the contribution. “As a CNMI stakeholder, Lollipops’ actions speak volumes. They are committed to the wellbeing of our islands and the future of our people as our economy needs people that can make and repair things. I cannot thank them enough as I know there are other worthy organizations out there vying for such financial support. So on behalf of the students, faculty, administrators, and NMTI board of directors, I extend an un dankulu na si yu’us ma’ase yan oloomway reemi.” (PR)