(Press Release) — Nippon General Trading Corp., doing business as Country House Restaurant, in collaboration with Hafa Adai Beach Hotel donated proceeds from a two-night charity concert to tsunami victims in Japan and to the Northern Marianas Protection & Advocacy Systems Inc., a local non-profit organization that provides protection and advocacy services on behalf of individuals with disabilities — each receiving over $3,000 in cash donations.
The G-GAP Band is a premiere country western band from Japan which has been making an annual tour stop on Saipan for the last several years in support of the Nippon group’s charity efforts.
Country House general manager Katsuko Kato said: “We’ve been donating money to off-island charities for the last several years. Last year we donated to charities on behalf of Japan and Oklahoma disaster victims, but this year we wanted to include a local beneficiary. We decided on NMPASI as a way to help individuals with disabilities.”
NMPASI was founded in 1993 with a mission to protect the civil, legal and human interests of individuals with disabilities. Since its inception, NMPASI has provided assistance to thousands of local residents with disabilities in the form of: (1) free legal services / representation to combat various forms of discrimination due to their disabilities, (2) free outreach/training activities throughout the community (to include Tinian and Rota) on issues relating to the needs and rights of individuals with disabilities and (3) free advocacy services for the elderly who may not otherwise qualify under our disability-related programs.
According to NMPASI Executive Director Jim Rayphand, “We’re humbled that Mr. Sago (owner of Country House) and Kato would recognize NMPASI’s efforts on behalf of people who have disabilities with such a generous donation… and the G-GAP Concert was a blast to boot.”
Other sponsors of the charity event besides Country House Restaurant and Hafa Adai Beach Hotel included: Delta Airlines, KSPN 2, the Visitors Channel, Pacific Trading Co. Ltd., Certified Angus Beef, Marpac Inc. and Gary Liddle.