FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACTS:
| John Sudsbury Senior Director of Communications Allstate Sugar Bowl 504.427.7076 johns@sugarbowl.org |
Courtney Thomas Barnes Vice President for Communications & Public Affairs Greater New Orleans Foundation 504.236.7096 courtney@gnof.org |
Allstate Sugar Bowl to Donate Half a Million Dollars Following New Year’s Day Bourbon Street Tragedy
Local Bowl Game Commits Significant Support to Victims and Public Safety
NEW ORLEANS (January 16, 2025) – The Sugar Bowl Committee, which has been a part of the fabric of New Orleans since the organization’s inception in 1934, has announced a $500,000 donation to the Greater New Orleans Foundation in response to the Bourbon Street terrorist act in the early morning hours of January 1. The attack caused the Allstate Sugar Bowl Football Classic to be moved from its traditional primetime spot on New Year’s Day to a 3 p.m. start on January 2.
“For more than 90 years, the Sugar Bowl has taken great pride in being a good corporate citizen,” said Sugar Bowl Committee President Walter Becker. “The attack on January 1 was a devastating blow to everyone in this great community. We’re hopeful that our efforts will assist the victims and their families as well as play a role in the important work of keeping our neighbors and visitors safe by preventing future acts like this.”
“We had the opportunity on January 2nd to play the Sugar Bowl football game, and we’re hopeful that doing so provided a bright spot and, in some small way, served as a small step forward toward recovery after this terrible act,” said Jeff Hundley, the chief executive officer of the Sugar Bowl. “With this gift, the Committee wanted to do its part to aid victims and their families while helping to ensure that our city is a safe place for our friends, our families and for the thousands of visitors we host every year.”
The Allstate Sugar Bowl’s donation will provide $250,000 to the Greater New Orleans Foundation’s New Year’s Day Tragedy Fund to support the families of those whose lives were taken and those seriously injured by the New Year’s Day tragedy. Another $250,000 will go to support partnerships to strengthen public safety in New Orleans.
“Through the New Orleans New Year’s Day Tragedy Fund, we are raising money to help the families of the victims and survivors start to heal and recover from this heartbreaking tragedy. We are utilizing the tried-and-true avenues we use when responding to other disasters in our region,” said Andy Kopplin, President & CEO of the Greater New Orleans Foundation. “Everyone has a job in times of disaster, and ours is raising money and deploying it to the most in need. We also work closely with the City of New Orleans and State of Louisiana as well as nonprofit organizations committed to public safety in our City, and look forward to working with these partners to invest the other half of this generous donation from the Allstate Sugar Bowl to further strengthen public safety in our region.”
The Sugar Bowl began during another crisis. In the heart of the Great Depression, a group of local leaders came together to form a midwinter carnival of sporting events, including a football game, to give a boost to the economy of New Orleans and the surrounding region. Since its start, the Sugar Bowl Committee has continued its original mission. For 91 years, it has given a major economic boost to the city and state and in the last decade has been responsible for over $2.5 billion of economic impact. The Sugar Bowl also awards over $100,000 in scholarships on an annual basis and has worked with the College Football Playoff Foundation to provide over $4 million in funds to area teachers since 2019.
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About the Allstate Sugar Bowl:
The Allstate Sugar Bowl has established itself as one of the premier college football bowl games, having hosted 28 national champions, 107 Hall of Fame players, 52 Hall of Fame coaches and 21 Heisman Trophy winners in its 91-year history. The 92nd Allstate Sugar Bowl Football Classic, which will double as a College Football Playoff Quarterfinal, is scheduled to be played on January 1, 2026. In addition to football, the Sugar Bowl Committee annually invests over $1 million into the community through the hosting and sponsorship of sporting events, awards, scholarships and clinics. For more information, visit www.AllstateSugarBowl.org.
About the Greater New Orleans Foundation:
With roots extending over 100 years, the Greater New Orleans Foundation connects generous people to the causes that spark their passion. As one of the most trusted philanthropic organizations in the region, we work every day to drive positive impact by championing charitable giving, strengthening nonprofits, and leading civic projects in our thirteen-parish region. In addition to grantmaking, we convene people, resources, and ideas to create intelligent strategies and solutions to meet our region’s greatest challenges. We are proud to serve as a vocal civic leader with our partners to ensure an economically and culturally vibrant, sustainable, and just region for all. Learn more at www.gnof.org.