“We want to ensure that the senior citizens continued to be cared for,” Lynn Knight, Hotel Association of Northern Mariana Islands president, said during the luncheon her group hosted for the senior citizens at the Fiesta Resort & Spa yesterday.
Knight, who is also the publisher of the Saipan Tribune, said the hotel industry finds it difficult to survive this year, but “we want to give back to the community the support we are getting from them.”
She said HANMI is happy to see the manamko’ enjoy the annual luncheon prepared by the hotels.
HANMI holds an annual charitable golf tournament and part of the proceeds from the event fund the special luncheon for the manamko’, she added
“We want to continue this traditional event with the manamko’ even during these hard times,” Knight said.
Aging Center Director Howard Macaranas presented Knight a certificate of appreciation for the hotel group’s continued support and contributions to the elderly.
“Your holiday spirit has brought us so much joy,” he told Knight and other HANMI members. “It is through such generous donations that we are able to continue to offer our senior citizens hope for a better holiday.”
In an interview, Macaranas said after the holiday season, the manamko’ will prepare for an annual conference in May that will review the program and activities for the senior citizens on island.
Aging Center program coordinator Walter Manglona said they are very fortunate that the business sector and non-government associations are very generous to the manamko’.
