As the founder and CEO of Bridge Capital and Angkor Capital Specialized Bank, John Baldwin has quickly become recognized as a leading entrepreneur in SE Asia. His leadership doesn’t stop at entrepreneurship, as he has set the standard for philanthropic work within the region. John is actively involved in numerous charities and has supported a range of charitable organizations over the years. Whether it is his work in Laos, Saipan, Guam, or Cambodia, John Baldwin’s Philanthropic leadership inspires other business leaders to take action and give back to their communities.
Bridge Capital Art Competition
The nexus of Art and friendly competition is where the Bridge Capital Art Competition lives. Over the last ten years, John has provided a platform for artists to compete for cash prizes and recognize their work. Most recently, the 2019 competition in Saipan awarded $15,250 in prizes to eight winners. This competition has become a focal point in Saipan’s art community and has helped uplift and fund local artists.
$26K Contribution to Various Charities
The traditions and needs of the communities that John Baldwin lives in are essential to him. As a member of these communities, he feels a responsibility to be supportive and uplift those around him. This can be reflected in the recent donation of $26,000 to Saipan charities in the CNMI, including government programs that keep ancient Chamorro traditions intact.
Included in this donation were individual contributions to organizations including The First Lady Diane Torres Foundation, the Commonwealth Council for Arts and Culture for their Seafaring Traditions Program, Saipan Little League Association, Hyatt Regency Golf Classic, and The Saipan Public School System.
Beach Road Fitness Stations
Communities can come together around fitness as a way to socialize and remain healthy at the same time. This is why Mr. Baldwin donated fitness stations at Beach Road Pathway in Saipan. In addition to the generous donation of six new stations, Mr. Baldwin spearheaded the repair of old stations that presented a safety risk to residents.
Representative Joseph “Lee Pan” Guerrero was incredibly supportive of this initiative. “We appreciate the generosity of John Baldwin and Bridge Capital and its spirit of volunteerism. We express our sincere appreciation to Bridge Capital for its contributions and for caring about Saipan’s people,” said representative Guerrero.
Micronesia Islands Natura Alliance (MINA) Adopt-A-Bin Program
Protecting the environment requires initiatives at both the federal and local levels. It was an understanding of what communities can do to make progress toward a cleaner planet that inspired John Baldwin to lead a Bridge Capital team to support the MINA Adopt-A-Bin Program.
This program was launched in 2010 on Mt. Tapochau and has been a shining example of bringing the community together in the spirit of beautification. Bridge Capital donated $1,000 to this program, and employees of the company donated their time to cleaning this mountain in the Northern Mariana Islands. The volunteers graciously cleaned up paper cups, plastic bottles, cigarette butts, wrappers, cans. The team enjoyed working with John to improve the park and ensure that it continues to thrive. “While we are always committed to supporting our community, the MINA program is special to us as we get so much enjoyment in having our offices in a beautiful island like Saipan, and we want to keep it beautiful,” said John.
$5k Donation to Tournament of Champions
The Tournament of Champions is held in high esteem among community members in Guam. “For more than 20 years, the Governor’s Tournament of Champions has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for beautification and improvement projects that enhance the CNMI’s reputation as a prime tourist destination,” said Joe Guerrero, Bridge Capital Business Development Manager.
In the spirit of community groups and volunteer projects, John Baldwin donated $5,000 to the 22nd annual event organizers. This donation helps TOC contribute to improvements in communal spaces and the revitalization of the Garapan special district.
Sponsorship of the 2018 Green Gala
The Green Gala aims to foster conservation communities and have been doing an exemplary job in their efforts. Bridge Captial, led by John Baldwin, sponsored this annual Green Gala hosted by MINA. “Bridge Captial is one of our very loyal and committed supporters. Their continued sponsorship of MINA’s efforts to foster communities for conservation is very important to our organization and assists us with the means to keep our projects viable.,” said Fran Castro, MINA chairperson.
Throughout his career, John Baldwin has demonstrated that the entrepreneurial spirit should be paired with a philanthropic vision. That is why John Baldwin work in Laos, Cambodia, Guam, and other countries prioritizes community building and locally focused initiatives. He has an international team composed of seasoned executives, engineers, lawyers, accountants, real estate developers, and other professionals.
