OUR TOWN | APRIL 2017

Liberty Bank’s Alden McDonald To Be Roasted at Delgado Foundation Fundraiser

The Delgado Community College Foundation will host the 2017 Roast of the Town fundraiser Friday, April 21, at the Harrah’s New Orleans Theater, 8 Canal St. Proceeds from the event will benefit scholarships and programs at Delgado Community College.

The event will roast Alden McDonald, president and CEO of Liberty Bank and Trust Company.  Roasters will include Lambert C. Boissiere Jr., Jared Brossett, Leah Chase, Paul Pastorek and Norman Robinson. Eric Paulsen, WWL-TV news anchor, will be the master of ceremonies.

The evening will include a reception and silent auction beginning at 7 p.m., followed by dinner, the roast and a live auction. A $10,000 raffle will be held for the purchase of $100 per ticket.

For more information, or to purchase table packages or tickets, contact Nita Hutter Meins at fndsupport@dcc.edu, call (504) 671-5412, or visit http://www.dcc.edu/alumni-giving/foundation/roast.aspx.

STRIVE NOLA Graduates its 13th Class

The city of New Orleans hosted the 13th STRIVE New Orleans (STRIVE NOLA) graduation ceremony on April 10. Launched in March 2015, STRIVE NOLA connects disadvantaged jobseekers to employment opportunities by providing workforce case management, job readiness training and supportive services.

“STRIVE NOLA prepares the men and women of New Orleans with the tools they need to succeed professionally,” says Mayor Mitch Landrieu. “Too many of our residents, particularly young African American men, are unemployed or underemployed.

Through the work of STRIVE NOLA and the Network for Economic Opportunity, we are working to ensure that every resident has an opportunity to access the pathway to prosperity.”

STRIVE NOLA prepares and connects local job seekers, specifically African American males, to career pathways through local anchor institutions. During the four-week job readiness training program, participants arrive to work daily dressed professionally from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. This cohort includes 10 New Orleans residents.

Deputy Mayor Judy Reese Morse says, “With 13 successful cohorts, we remain committed to investing in disadvantaged job seekers through STRIVE NOLA. With the commitment of our partners, we are creating real opportunities for the city’s residents.”

Heart & Soul Gala Set for May 19

The American Heart Association will host the Heart & Soul Gala from 7 p.m. until 11 p.m. Friday, May 19, at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans, 601 Loyola Ave.

Funds raised at the Heart & Soul Gala will help the American Heart Association to continue the fight against cardiovascular diseases and defects – the #1 killer in the state of Louisiana and in the country.   Heart disease is the #1 killer of both men and women in our country and heart defects are the #1 killer of children.  Louisiana continues to be one of the least healthy states in the nation, are the most obese & least physically active in the country. The American Heart Association funds research and educational programs both locally and nationally to lower these numbers.

One hundred percent of the funds raised through the Heart & Soul Gala is invested back into the New Orleans community through educational outreach programs, CPR training and certification, placement of automated external defibrillators, and funding for groundbreaking medical research.

This year alone, the American Heart Association invested over $2 million into rebuilding research in New Orleans.
Tickets are $250 and can be purchased by calling 504.830.2300 or visit neworleansheartball.heart.org.

NORD Foundation Honors Jerome Smith, Peyton Manning at Inaugural Gala

On April 11, the New Orleans Recreation Development (NORD) Foundation held its first inaugural Champions Gala honoring longtime supporters, Jerome Smith and Peyton Manning. The gala was held at the Jill H. and Avram A. Glazer Family Club at Tulane University’s Yulman Stadium.

The informal gala was also an opportunity to highlight progress made by the New Orleans Recreation Development Commission since the private-public partnership was established in 2010 while also honoring NORD community supporters and volunteers.

The “Unsung Hero” award went to Jerome Smith, a Freedom Rider, community activist and longtime NORDC volunteer who advocates tirelessly for children. Smith shared the evening’s honors with NFL quarterback, Peyton Manning, who played NORD baseball before he became a football star. Peyton was recognized as the NORD Foundation’s first “Legacy Tribute” recipient.

Master P Joins with Local Book Club to Raise Money for Scholarships

New Orleans native and hip-hop icon, Percy Miller, aka “Master P” has signed on to co-host Le Sanctuary Book Club’s “Stars & Strikes Celebrity Day Soiree and Bowling Bash” during Essence Festival weekend. 100 percent of the proceeds will benefit Le Sanctuary’s mission to help local college-bound women purchase books for their freshman year.

To apply for scholarships visit www.lesanctuary.org. The scholarship application deadline is Friday, June 2.

The fundraiser will take place from 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Saturday, July 1, at Fulton Alley, 600 Fulton Street
Le Sanctuary Book Club provides book scholarships to female high school seniors that will attend a college in Louisiana.  To date, the organization has awarded over 50 scholarships to deserving college-bound students. Almost 12 years ago when Hurricane Katrina touched down, Angela Young, president of the book club, started this program.

“It’s truly an honor and privilege to have entertainment mogul Master P support Le Sanctuary Book Club’s efforts to give back and raise awareness in the community,” Young says. “We appreciate Master P and other (high-profile individuals) who associate themselves with our efforts.”