THE presidents of two high school American Red Cross clubs on Saipan brought their schools together to raise over $1,500 in donations for the local chapter of the American Red Cross.
Jayoung Kim is the president of the Saipan International School Red Cross Club. Her counterpart at Mount Carmel School is JaeYun Jung.
On Sunday, Oct. 20, their clubs hosted a car wash at the Shell gas station in Puerto Rico.
Kim said the two clubs decided to work together because it “amplifies our impact.”
“Both the SIS and MCS American Red Cross chapters share the same mission of supporting our community, and by joining forces, we could reach more people and raise greater awareness,” Kim said.
The fundraiser was “especially meaningful” because it enabled SIS students and MCS students to interact, she added.
“We saw this as an opportunity to build new connections,” she said.
Although they were at different schools, the clubs, in planning the event, held in-person meetings when their schedules aligned or communicated via text or phone call.
Kim said all the proceeds raised went to the local ARC.
“We chose to host a fundraiser because of the vital role the American Red Cross plays in helping communities recover from disasters and providing life-saving support during emergencies,” she said. “In the Northern Mariana Islands, their work is essential in offering aid to families in need and building resilience through disaster preparedness. Our goal was to contribute to strengthen these efforts and give back to the community through a meaningful, student-led project.”
Jung said the event was a “fun and memorable experience.”
“Despite it being a rainy day, many customers showed up to get their car washed and we hope that they were all satisfied with our work as we gave it our best,” Jung said. “Being able to raise such a large amount, we felt a sense of accomplishment, each patting one another on the back after the event.”
Kim said it wasn’t easy to pull off the collaboration, but they are encouraged by the amount of money they raised and the good cause it supports.
“This experience has made me even more committed to continuing meaningful work, not just for the past three years, but for the rest of my life,” she said. “Together, I hope to set a foundation for more joint efforts that will strengthen our island and create lasting benefits for the community.”
SIS and MCS students clean cars to raise funds for the American Red Cross.
SIS and MCS students clean cars to raise funds for the American Red Cross.
