By Emmanuel T. Erediano
Variety News Staff

THE Commonwealth Diabetes Coalition yesterday received a check in the amount of $40,000 from the Larry L Hillblom Foundation.
Ayuda Network Inc., led by Jerome Ierome and its other officers, handed the check to the coalition officers at the manamko’ center.
The Larry L. Hillblom Foundation is a California-based non-profit public benefit corporation that provides philanthropic support exclusively for charitable, religious, scientific, literary and educational purposes.
Hillblom, who served as a CNMI special judge, was one of the foremost businessmen in the Marianas when he died in a plane crash in May 1995.
The Ayuda Network is a non-profit corporation composed of officials in government and non-government entities as well as individuals who want to help address critical social problems.
The Ayuda Network will be the manager and reporting agent for the grant, Ierome said.
Also yesterday, Ierome handed certificates of appreciation to several individuals.
“This is the time that we show appreciation to the community and all those who have supported us,” Ierome said.
These included John Hirsh of the NMI chapter of the American Red Cross, the Division of Youth Service, the Community Guidance Center and Marianas Health Services.
Ierome said the Ayuda Network still needs all the support it can get to continue meeting its goals.