MYPros raises over $2,000 for NMI Museum

Article By:  Lori Lyn C. Lirio – lyn@mvariety.com – Variety News Staff

THE Marianas Young Professionals or MYPros raised over $2,000 during a fundraising mixer on Friday at the NMI Museum of History and Culture.

According to Matt Deleon Guerrero, MYPros president, the money will go to the museum to support its renovation project.

He said the event also showcased the renovations that Museum Executive Director Danny Aquino and his staff have already completed.

Deleon Guerrero encouraged members of the community to visit the museum.

DFS Saipan Ltd. division president Marian Aldan-Pierce presents a check for $1,000 to the NMI Museum. Also in photo are Sheila Babauta, Bobby Cruz, Matt Deleon Guerrero, Kaitlyn Neises and Nola Hix.

Holding the fundraising mixer was MYPros member Hanaivy Babauta’s idea.

“I was taking a course at [Northern Marianas College] and my history teacher took us to the museum right after much of the renovation work had been done,” she said. “The museum right now is great, but I realized there’s a lot more to be done.” When she presented the idea to MYPros, she said the other members agreed to hold a fundraising mixer for the museum.

Babauta said she wants to see more storage room for the artifacts “because they have a lot in storage, and it is just sitting there right now.”

The event’s other goal, according to MYPros vice president Nola Hix, was to connect with the members. “We wanted to talk to them about our upcoming events and how to get more active and involved.”

She said MYPros will be holding its third anniversary on Aug. 18. They will also hold a candidates forum from Aug. 13 to 17. “It is election season. There’s a lot of stuff going on,” she added.

NMI Museum Executive Director Danny Aquino and his staff receive a $1,000 donation from DFS Saipan Ltd. Contributed photos

During the event on Friday, MYPros announced that Bobby Cruz, Public School System instructional-technology director, is the group’s new director.

“We are excited about having him as part of our organization because we have merged with the Million Dollar Scholars program. With his educational background, we are hoping he will be able to bring a lot of ideas to the table,” Hix said.

Among the other activities on Friday night was the live auction of artwork from Bridge Capital’s collection.

Deleon Guerrero said Bridge Capital donated the winning paintings and photographs from the annual Flame Tree Arts Festival contest that the company sponsors. He said they raised over $1,000 from the auction while DFS Saipan donated $1,000 to the museum.