A drive to help deserving but financially disadvantaged students is always a great cause to support. But when an organization doubles its previous year’s goals and that is even surpassed, then it must also be because the project was run well. That is what UPAA Arizona has experienced in its UP MAROONong Games.
It all started in 2019 when we told ourselves we had better be serious with our fundraising, after having succeeded organizing ourselves into an ongoing concern under the leadership of Liza Reyes. There were about 50 people who immensely enjoy our Thanksgiving Games Night with bingo, mahjong, and poker. That was when in-person events were still in vogue.
Unfortunately, something called Covid-19 upended our plans to continue the project. But, with technology savvy people in our midst, we successfully pivoted into a virtual UP MAROONong Games for Thanksgiving 2020. Our immediate past president Monet Gatchalian doubled the funds we raised and formalized our recognition as a 501c3 organization which means that donations we receive are tax-exempt.
The new format actually reached and engaged more people, even those outside of Arizona. Emboldened, our new president, Bob Reyes again doubled our goals. We sought the support of both the UP Alumni Association in America which welcomed the Arizona Chapter as its charter chapter and of the UPMASA Arizona Chapter with whom we had been talking about joint projects. And their heavy support, together with our own members’ enthusiasm, resulted in a success that we only dreamed would happen.
We are grateful to everyone. Funds have been transferred into two scholarships looking for students in UP Los Banos in its food technology program that is very relevant to the Philippines’ developmental needs and UP Manila for its degree program in Public Health that is very much needed in today’s pandemic crises. See you all in UP MAROONong Games 3.0 in whatever format it may be! We promise it will be as enjoyable and as worthy of your time and help.
Winners of the 2020 Maroonong Games
Grand Raffle Winner (Diamond/ Wyndham Hotel stay): Monet Gatchalian
Bingo Blackout Game Winner (Sedona, AZ stay): Cristy Colmenar
Trivia Game Winner (Amazon Echo Dot): Lillian Aquino
Raffle Winners ($20 Amazon Gift Cards):
- Dr. Winston Umali
- Joselito Aquino
- Lina Alba
- Chedita Denina
Bingo Game Pattern Winners:
- Carol Colborn ($25 Sauce gift card & Clever Dripper Coffee Maker donated by Dr. Gloria Kaye & Monet Gatchalian)
- Kellie Sabas ($50 Fleming’s gift card donated by Dr. Christine Claveria)
- Elma Greenwood ($50 Jollibee gift card donated by UPMASA Arizona)
- Vin Gatchalian (Webcam donated by Richelle Caubang)
- Daisy Macadaeg (Webcam donated by Carol Colborn)
UPAA - Arizona Chapter 