Native Nations St. Maarten launches “Support Yours” campaign to boost local youth, community organizations

GREAT BAY--Native Nations St. Maarten has launched its new “Support Yours” campaign, inviting the public to vote for four local organizations that are strengthening the community. Voting runs from December 4 to 24, and letters and invitations have gone out to partners and stakeholders encouraging island residents to take part.

Through the campaign, every eligible vote generates a 4 dollar donation from Native Nations to the organization selected by the voter. At the end of the campaign, the organization with the most votes will receive an additional 500 dollar award. The campaign page is here: https://www.nncsxm.com/supportyours

To be eligible to vote, participants can complete any one of three simple actions:

• like the Native Nations St. Maarten Facebook page

• follow the Native Nations St. Maarten Instagram account

• or enter an email address through the campaign page

Once eligible, users select the group they want to support and submit their vote. Each vote counts as a direct financial contribution to that organization.

The “Support Yours” campaign features four local groups that work with youth, animals, and sports:

• SXM Paws, which rescues, rehabilitates, and rehomes stray animals, and supports spay and neuter, medical care, and adoption initiatives.

• Dynamics Sporting Club, which trains young athletes through track and field, building discipline, confidence, and leadership while preparing them for local and regional competitions.

• Reason for Hope Foundation, which uses sports, mentorship, and community activities to support youth and adults.

• Pelican League Baseball Association, which organizes tournaments, clinics, and community programs to grow baseball on St. Maarten.

By tying small individual actions to concrete donations, the campaign is designed to give residents a simple way to channel support to the causes they care about. It also helps local organizations gain visibility, attract new supporters, and strengthen their capacity to serve youth and families.

Native Nations Cannabis St. Maarten (NNCSXM) is the official partner of the Government of St. Maarten in leading the island’s cannabis legalization, regulation, and development strategy together with the Cannabis Legislative Inter-Ministerial Work Group (CLIWG). The organization’s mission is to help build a safe, inclusive, community driven cannabis industry that protects public health, empowers farmers, and contributes to national economic growth.

Its work is guided by five core pillars:

• Health and safety: Preventing the sale of contaminated or unregulated products, including those that may contain dangerous additives.

• Education and awareness: Providing clear, evidence-based information about cannabis use, risks, and potential benefits.

• Equity and opportunity: Ensuring that local farmers, entrepreneurs, and communities have fair access to training and industry opportunities.

• Economic development: Creating jobs, attracting responsible investment, and supporting revenue that stays on the island.

• Partnerships: Working with ministries, researchers, and global experts to shape policy and best practices.

Through “Support Yours,” Native Nations aims to show how a regulated, community focused approach can create direct benefits for local organizations, while also encouraging residents to stay informed and engaged. The campaign highlights a model in which new industries are linked to real social investment, particularly in youth development, sports, and animal welfare.

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