Japanese Society of the NMI vice chairman Yoichi Matsumura, who was a guest at the Saipan Chamber of Commerce meeting at the Pacific Islands Club on Wednesday, said that $40,000 of the total collected donations were in cash, while the rest were in-kind with a total value of $22,000.
Matsumura said they were able to raise about $5,000 during the radiothon fundraising event at the Garapan Fishing Base on Saturday. It could have been more, he said, if not for the rain that lasted the whole day.
Matsumura said they raffled in-kind donations which consisted of gift certificates to hotels and restaurants and other donations from sponsors.
“We will still continue our fundraising campaign and we will still accept cash and in-kind donations until the end of June,” Matsumura said.
In-kind donations will again be raffled on May 28, the final Saturday of the Taste of the Marianas annual event.
Checks are also accepted and should be made payable to the Japan Disaster Relief, Matsumura said.
The money raised will be turned over to the Japanese Consulate here.
“We are looking at the second week of May to turn over our first collections to the Japanese Consulate,” Matsumura said as he expressed thanks to the continuous support of the community to help the thousands of disaster victims in Japan.
Their goal is to raise at least $100,000.
Working with the Japanese Society of the NMI in the relief effort is the Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Japan Saipan Travel Association, the Marianas Visitors Authority and the governor’s office.
For donations or for more information, email Matsumura at [email protected] or call 287-8785.
