FBCO in the News
September 1, 2006
September 1, 2006
September 1, 2006 Contact: Ashley K. Shelton
For Immediate Release Director of Policy Initiatives
225-383-1672
LOUISIANA DISASTER RECOVERY FOUNDATION
Louisiana's Fund for Louisiana's People
The Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation Announces LORA Awards
Recipients Will Use Award for Rest and Renewal
NEW ORLEANS, LA: As a way of acknowledging the countless hours and sacrifices Louisiana-
based community organizers have spent in the relief and recovery effort since Hurricanes
Katrina and Rita, the Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation (LDRF) will honor 17 local
community organizers with a Louisiana Organizers Renewal Award (LORA). The LORA
honorees, who be known as LORA Fellows, will each receive a stipend of up to $3,000, with the
only stipulation that the money be used for rest, recuperation, and renewal. "As a community,
we all owe these selfless men and women a great debt of gratitude," said Sherece West, LDRF’
s chief executive officer. "This award is to say ‘thank you’ for putting the needs of the
community first all these months but now, take time for renewal so that you can come back
refreshed to resume your good work."
This first class of honorees was selected from various Louisiana-based nonprofit organizations
that had a significant presence in the relief and recovery efforts following the hurricanes. They
are: Steve Bradberry, Marianne Elizabeth Butler, Tanya Harris, Dawn Marie Hurt, and Wade
Rathke from ACORN; Rosa Hines with Local SEIU 100; Jeffrey Karlson of Louisiana Fair
Housing and VITA Site coordinator; Lady Carlson and Jacqueline Jones, the New Orleans
Jeremiah Group; Perry Perkins, organizer for Northern and Central Louisiana Interfaith; Rev.
Jennifer Jones Bridgett and Laguardia Collins of PICO LIFT Louisiana; Mary Croom Fontenot
and Daniel Mathieu, All Congregations Together (ACT); and Sharon Gauthe and Patricia
Whitney with Bayou Interfaith Shared Community Organizing (BISCO).
LDRF partnered with several foundations and is currently raising support to sponsor future
LORA fellows. "Keeping a refreshed core of people dedicated to this long term recovery effort
is vital for a better Louisiana to emerge, said West.” We are grateful to our partners that helped
sponsor this first class of fellows and are hopeful that we will be able to provide this opportunity
throughout this long road of recovery and betterment."
Supporters of this first class of fellows included the C.S. Mott Foundation, Needmor Fund,
Evangelical Lutheran Church of America Disaster Fund, Unitarian Universalist Veatch, Interfaith
Funders, Neighborhood Funders Group, and the Hazen Foundation. Kathy Partridge,
executive director of Interfaith Funders added, “The LORA represents an expression of our
gratitude for and tribute to these men and women who despite their own personal losses, toiled
on the frontlines in the aftermath of the hurricanes. I’m delighted this innovative initiative was
created to allow foundations and other organizations another way to contribute to the rebirth of
the region.”
For information about the Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation or the LORA Awards,
please call (225) 383-1672, or visit www.louisianahelp.org
The Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation was born in the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina
and Rita. Its mission is to transform the disaster caused by the hurricanes into an
unprecedented opportunity for a new Louisiana—providing resources for the relief, recovery,
and betterment of all its people by ensuring access and opportunity in rebuilding their
communities and culture.
For Immediate Release Director of Policy Initiatives
225-383-1672
LOUISIANA DISASTER RECOVERY FOUNDATION
Louisiana's Fund for Louisiana's People
The Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation Announces LORA Awards
Recipients Will Use Award for Rest and Renewal
NEW ORLEANS, LA: As a way of acknowledging the countless hours and sacrifices Louisiana-
based community organizers have spent in the relief and recovery effort since Hurricanes
Katrina and Rita, the Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation (LDRF) will honor 17 local
community organizers with a Louisiana Organizers Renewal Award (LORA). The LORA
honorees, who be known as LORA Fellows, will each receive a stipend of up to $3,000, with the
only stipulation that the money be used for rest, recuperation, and renewal. "As a community,
we all owe these selfless men and women a great debt of gratitude," said Sherece West, LDRF’
s chief executive officer. "This award is to say ‘thank you’ for putting the needs of the
community first all these months but now, take time for renewal so that you can come back
refreshed to resume your good work."
This first class of honorees was selected from various Louisiana-based nonprofit organizations
that had a significant presence in the relief and recovery efforts following the hurricanes. They
are: Steve Bradberry, Marianne Elizabeth Butler, Tanya Harris, Dawn Marie Hurt, and Wade
Rathke from ACORN; Rosa Hines with Local SEIU 100; Jeffrey Karlson of Louisiana Fair
Housing and VITA Site coordinator; Lady Carlson and Jacqueline Jones, the New Orleans
Jeremiah Group; Perry Perkins, organizer for Northern and Central Louisiana Interfaith; Rev.
Jennifer Jones Bridgett and Laguardia Collins of PICO LIFT Louisiana; Mary Croom Fontenot
and Daniel Mathieu, All Congregations Together (ACT); and Sharon Gauthe and Patricia
Whitney with Bayou Interfaith Shared Community Organizing (BISCO).
LDRF partnered with several foundations and is currently raising support to sponsor future
LORA fellows. "Keeping a refreshed core of people dedicated to this long term recovery effort
is vital for a better Louisiana to emerge, said West.” We are grateful to our partners that helped
sponsor this first class of fellows and are hopeful that we will be able to provide this opportunity
throughout this long road of recovery and betterment."
Supporters of this first class of fellows included the C.S. Mott Foundation, Needmor Fund,
Evangelical Lutheran Church of America Disaster Fund, Unitarian Universalist Veatch, Interfaith
Funders, Neighborhood Funders Group, and the Hazen Foundation. Kathy Partridge,
executive director of Interfaith Funders added, “The LORA represents an expression of our
gratitude for and tribute to these men and women who despite their own personal losses, toiled
on the frontlines in the aftermath of the hurricanes. I’m delighted this innovative initiative was
created to allow foundations and other organizations another way to contribute to the rebirth of
the region.”
For information about the Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation or the LORA Awards,
please call (225) 383-1672, or visit www.louisianahelp.org
The Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation was born in the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina
and Rita. Its mission is to transform the disaster caused by the hurricanes into an
unprecedented opportunity for a new Louisiana—providing resources for the relief, recovery,
and betterment of all its people by ensuring access and opportunity in rebuilding their
communities and culture.