New Orleans, LA | October 3, 2012 – The Greater New Orleans Foundation will house the NOLA FOR LIFE Fund, created by the City of New Orleans as a part of “Flip the Script,” a multimedia, public awareness campaign produced by award-winning film director Spike Lee. “Flip the Script” is part of Mayor Landrieu’s NOLA FOR LIFE murder reduction strategy, aimed at changing the attitudes of and about young, black men.
“To end the cycle of violence and death on the streets of New Orleans, we must have all hands on deck,” said Mayor Landrieu. “Though we are not all at fault, we all have a responsibility to do more. Some need to take greater personal responsibility. For some of us, that means volunteering. For others, we can proactively invest in the lives of youths that are looking to turn their lives around. This fund will support those efforts.”
Dr. Albert Ruesga, President & CEO of the Greater New Orleans Foundation said, “We are pleased to be in partnership with the City of New Orleans to implement the NOLA FOR LIFE initiative that has the potential not only to transform the lives of those most directly impacted, but to improve the quality of life for everyone in our community.”
The City will match the tax-deductible donations to the NOLA FOR LIFE Fund dollar for dollar, up to $250,000. Yesterday, the Mayor accepted the first major donation to the fund — a $1 million gift from Chevron.
“Chevron is pleased to support NOLA FOR LIFE through investments in education and job creation. We believe in the power of partnership and collaboration to achieve sustainable outcomes. So, we are pleased to build on our existing programs in this region by working together with Mayor Landrieu, Spike Lee, the Greater New Orleans Foundation, the Urban League, and the countless nonprofit and community organizations on this ambitions effort to improve the quality of life and economic vitality of New Orleans,” said Warner Williams, Vice President of Chevron’s Gulf of Mexico Business Unit.
The NOLA FOR LIFE Fund will support the efforts of high-quality, local service providers and of individuals who’ve chosen to “flip their script” on their futures. Donors can choose how their donations get spent, from educational programs and job training to substance abuse programs and safe housing. Individuals wishing to donate to the fund can find a link athttp://nolaforlife.org.
Building on the work of the first two years, the NOLA FOR LIFE plan includes new initiatives that have an immediate and urgent focus on stopping shootings. Recognizing that law enforcement alone cannot solve the murder problem, the NOLA FOR LIFE plan takes a holistic approach getting to the root of the problem, and divides the plan into five main categories: stop the shooting; invest in prevention; promote jobs and opportunity; improve the NOPD; and get involved and rebuild neighborhoods.
Mayor Landrieu commented, “We are working day and night to reduce murder. But we all must do our part. I am asking the people of New Orleans to get involved, help us Flip the Script, and take a stand with NOLA FOR LIFE.”
About Chevron Gulf of Mexico Business Unit
Based in Covington, LA, Chevron’s Gulf of Mexico business unit has approximately 1,800 employees and approximately 2,000 contractors daily. Chevron is one of the largest producers and second largest leaseholder on the Gulf of Mexico shelf, and one of the top leaseholders in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico. www.chevron.com
About the Greater New Orleans Foundation
The Greater New Orleans Foundation is one of the oldest and largest philanthropic organizations in the region. Every day, the Foundation joins other foundations, non-profit organizations, community leaders, and government officials to address the needs of the community and build consensus for solutions. Together with its family of donors, the Foundation has invested over $100 million in our region since it opened its doors over 25 years ago to respond to community needs. dev.gnof.org
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