Student raises $161 from Capitol Hill

Reenah Garcia must feel like the luckiest girl in the Commonwealth.

With scarcely any effort on her part and armed only with natural charm and a killer smile, this diminutive Garapan Elementary School student managed to wangle $161 from ranking government officials, who all chipped in yesterday to sponsor her participation in the Relay for Life Walk-a-Thon of the American Red Cross on Saturday.

With $50 that he said he “reprogrammed” from his wallet, Gov. Juan N. Babauta started the ball rolling for Reenah, as he thanked her for visiting the Office of the Governor.

“Just minutes before we started today’s ceremony, we were able to reprogram some money from our wallets. And so, on behalf of myself, I hereby pledge $50 for your walk,” Babauta said, amid the gales of laughter and applause that followed this statement.

Lt. Gov. Diego T. Benavente, who also donated $50 for Reenah, also provoked laughter when he said he was forced to “reprogram” money from his and Special Assistant for Customs Affairs Frank Taitano’ wallet, knowing that he has to match Babauta’s donation.

It was Attorney General Robert Torres who brought the house down, however, when he explained why he could only donate $19, saying he answers to a higher boss—namely, his wife. “I left the house with $20 this morning. I bought two newspapers and she expects change but if I get a receipt from Red Cross, I can give you the $19 left in my wallet,” he said.

Besides the three, others who also donated cash as sponsors for Reenah’s participation in the Red Cross walk-a-thon were Taitano, who gave $22; and newly appointed Secretary of the Department of Commerce, Fermin M. Atalig, who donated $20 as his first official action as a Cabinet member.

American Red Cross Chair Jocelyn DeLeon Guerrero said that, before this, Reenah has already collected a total of $80 in pledges for the walk-a-thon. “I was going to put these two fine gentlemen [Babauta and Benavente] to the challenge of matching that pledge. They have, thus far, exceeded it. Thank you,” she said.

The presentation was intended to promote the 16th Annual Relay For Life Walk-a-Thon of the American Red Cross, which would be held tomorrow. DeLeon Guerrero said this year’s event would be unique in that this will be the first time that the walk-a-thon would be held simultaneously on Saipan, Tinian and Rota.