ATKINS Kroll Saipan became a gold sponsor of the Pacific Mini Games 2022 on Thursday after donating $55,000 to the organizing committee led by Chairman Marco Peter and CEO Ben Babauta.
“We’re only 29 days away from the games but AK Toyota has stepped up to support us,” Peter said.
He noted that AK’s $55,000 donation also highlighted its 55 years of service to the local community.
“Our games organizing committee really appreciate what you have done today,” Peter added.
He said they expect that over 1,800 individuals, including athletes, coaches, team officials and media, will be on island for the games which the CNMI will host from June 17 to 25.
Babauta said AK’s donation “will definitely help make the event successful.”
Peter and Babauta, along with the rest of the games organizing committee, received the check from AK Saipan General Manager Joel Lesh, Sales Manager Kevin Barnes and their sales team.
“We are very honored to be able to support,” Barnes said. “It’s also our 55th anniversary in the community and what better way for us to be able to give back than to support something that is doing so much, not just for our island but for the whole Pacific region by bringing everyone together.”
He added, “Teamwork and healthy competition — that’s what it’s all about.”
Barnes said the mini games are very special to him because his father, Dr. Kurt Barnes, first came to Saipan in 1969 to teach community sports.
Dr. Barnes is a CNMI Sports Hall of Fame member, a former sports official and coach of different sports in the Northern Marianas. He is also the author of “Sports Legends of Micronesia.”
AK Saipan Sales Manager Kevin Barnes, with Pacific Mini Games Organizing Committee Chairman Marco Peter, AK Saipan General Manager Joel Lesh and organizing committee CEO Ben Babauta pose with the AK Saipan sales team and organizing committee members during AK’s presentation of a check for $55,000 in its showroom on Thursday.
