New Orleans – The Greater New Orleans Foundation (Foundation) announced it has activated its Disaster Response & Restoration Fund and will be awarding a total of $75,000 in grants to six local nonprofits that serve Jefferson, St. Bernard, St. Charles, and Orleans parishes in response to the tornadoes which hit on Wednesday, December 14.
Donations can be made to the Disaster Response & Restoration Fund here. Please write “Tornado” when asked to specify the fund.
Wednesday’s tornadoes struck while many residents are still recovering from Hurricane Ida and the tornadoes that struck St. Bernard Parish in March, only a few months ago. Through the Disaster Response & Restoration Fund, the Foundation mobilizes and supports a network of voluntary and community organizations active in disasters (VOADS and COADS) whose expertise is deployed locally, nationally, and internationally. The Disaster Response & Restoration Fund provides immediate relief as well as long-term rebuilding support.
The rapid response grants, totaling $75,000, will be distributed among the following nonprofit organizations: Community Center of St. Bernard, Hands on New Orleans, Jefferson Community Foundation, Second Harvest Food Back of Southeast Louisiana, United Way of St. Charles, and VIA LINK.
“The Foundation has a deep understanding of how to respond to disasters in our region,” said Andy Kopplin, President and CEO of the Greater New Orleans Foundation. “Yesterday’s tornadoes impacted many who are still in the midst of recovering from Hurricane Ida and the tornadoes that struck St. Bernard Parish in March. We recognize that unprecedented circumstances call for unprecedented action. That is why we are granting $75,000 to nonprofits in the impacted parishes. Our nonprofit partners are experts in responding to both immediate and long-term needs of our community following disaster. As always, we are proud to support these trusted organizations with today’s grants and remain committed to quickly responding to the needs of our region.”
“I want to thank our partners at the Greater New Orleans Foundation for their steadfast commitment to both Jefferson Parish and our entire region as we face recovery from yet another disaster,” said Jefferson Parish President, Cynthia Lee Sheng. “Their generous grants to nonprofit organizations in our area will help provide the needed support and resources to our community as we work to recover from the devastation, especially during the holidays.”
“As St. Bernard Parish faces the aftermath of a tornado for the second time this year, I am thankful for the Greater New Orleans Foundation’s continued commitment to our parish’s recovery,” said St. Bernard Parish President, Guy McInnis. “We are all too familiar with disaster recovery but in times like this, the support of our friends and neighbors is what makes these trying times a bit easier.”
“We are thankful to the Greater New Orleans Foundation for their quick response to our region’s needs following the devastation from yesterday’s tornadoes,” said John Dias, Executive Director, United Way of St. Charles. “We know the road to recovery will be long but in times like this, the strength of our community carries us through. This grant will go a long way in helping us provide both immediate and long-term support to our community.”
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