Joeten launches fundraiser for Team Marianas

Staunch NMI sports supporter Joeten Group has once again stepped up to assist athletes and officials by launching a fundraiser for the benefit the Team Marianas that will be competing in the Micronesian Games 2024 in the Marshall Islands this summer.

Starting this Saturday, March 23, Joeten and its stores will be accepting donations for the Team Marianas. Donations can be made by shopping at any Joeten stores and affiliates and upon checkout, the cashier will accept the donated amount (donors could choose to donate $1, $5, and $10) and add it on to the shopper’s receipt. Joeten will then turn over the donation to the Northern Marianas Sports Association and will also give the company’s own donation for Team Marianas.

The fundraiser for Team Marianas is part of Joeten’s 75th anniversary celebration and its efforts to continue giving back to the community and supporting worthy causes, such as sports development.

“Joeten and our affiliates and the Joeten Daidai Foundation acknowledge the critical role that sports play in shaping the character of individuals, in teaching and developing ones’ athletics skills, and in having a productive and healthy community. Team Marianas made up of our athletes and officials have represented the islands well in the past competitions and we look forward to another successful participation in this year’s Micronesian Games,” Joeten Daidai Foundation executive director Patty Palacios said.

Team Marianas is planning to send around 150 athletes and officials to the Marshall Islands to compete in the Micronesian Games 2024 that will run from June 15 to 24. NMI delegates will see action in athletics, basketball, beach volleyball, tennis, fastpitch softball, va’a, wrestling, weightlifting, and swimming.

The NMSA, which is working with the different national federations that are sending teams to the Micronesian Games 2024, thanked Joeten and the Joeten Daidai Foundation for the partnership and for their continued support to NMI sports. Joeten supported Team Marianas’ campaign in the 2022 Northern Marianas Pacific Mini Games and the 2023 Solomon Islands Pacific Games where the NMI delegation made historic achievements.

“In the past two major competitions in our region, NMI athletes and officials were able to deliver outstanding performances. Thanks to their hard work and commitment to their respectively sports, and of course to the organizations, like Joeten and the Joeten Daidai Foundation, for rallying behind Team Marianas and providing generous support. Partnerships like this keep our team going and help boost their morale as they go out there and compete for the NMI. The strong support we get from both the private and public sectors also gives us the opportunity and encouragement to keep providing programs with a goal of not just winning medals for the NMI but as well as promoting an active and healthy lifestyle among our community members through their involvement in sports,” NMSA president Jerry Tan said.

Donations for Team Marianas will go to the funds that will be used to pay for portion of the airfare and accommodations in the Marshall Islands. Athletes and officials themselves are chipping in for the costs of the trip in support of NMSA’s shared responsibility approach in sending delegates to this year’s Micronesian Games.

The community can turn in their donation by shopping at Joeten Susupe, Dandan, Garapan and Kagman stores, the Athlete’s Foot, All-Star Sporting Goods, Joeten Superstores, Ace Hardware Susupe and Middle Road, and Boarderline. (PR)