Jefferson Community Foundation Board Presents Their Work to the Jefferson Parish Council
Jefferson Community Foundation Receives $500,000 from
the Greater New Orleans Foundation
NEW ORLEANS – The Greater New Orleans Foundation (GNOF) announced today that Ric Smith, president of the Jefferson Community Foundation, will introduce the work of the Jefferson Community Foundation to the Jefferson Parish Council on Wednesday, September 2, 2009. The meeting will take place during the Parish Council meeting, East Bank Chambers. An affiliate of GNOF, the Jefferson Community Foundation was formed in 2008 to address community issues specific to Jefferson Parish.
Over a five-year period, GNOF will contribute $500,000 to the Jefferson Community Foundation. Ten percent of that amount will be set aside as an endowment for the Jefferson Community Foundation for future grantmaking specifically for Jefferson Parish. With funding from GNOF, the Jefferson Community Foundation will identify existing and emerging parish needs which will be addressed through strategic grantmaking.
“We believe that the rebuilding process in surrounding areas should be spearheaded by leaders who live and work there. Acting on this belief, GNOF launched and funded community-based affiliates in St. Bernard, Plaquemines, and Jefferson parishes,” said Dr. Albert Ruesga, GNOF president & CEO. “Now, individuals who have, for their entire lives, been involved in the politics and-more importantly-the cultures of these communities are identifying and addressing the greatest needs of their respective parishes and, in the process, are charting the future of philanthropy in surrounding communities.”
The board of the Jefferson Community Foundation is comprised of 21 business and civic leaders from Jefferson Parish who are committed to improving the parish for all residents. A list of board members is available on GNOF’s website: www.gnof.org/programs/JeffersonParish.
“The first grants made by the Jefferson Community Foundation addressed community revitalization, a need clearly outlined in the JEDCO’s Jefferson EDGE 2020 reports,” said Smith. ”Six neighborhood organizations received a total of $20,500. The Bissonet Subdivision, one of the neighborhoods to receive a grant, was able to leverage this grant for an additional $178,000 in funding. They received $1,000 from a private donation and $177,000 was pledged by Councilman Congemi and the Parish Administration. Additionally, we granted $50,000 to Friends of Jefferson the Beautiful and Jefferson Beautification, Inc. for the improvement of 50 subdivisions,” said Smith.
“We hope that these initial grants help instill an enhanced feeling of civic pride, and we hope that our long-term activities lead to widespread civic engagement,” said Smith.
“Our foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life for every citizen in Jefferson Parish,” said Smith. “For current and future generations, we will serve as a catalyst and resource for philanthropy. Rather than compete with other charitable and philanthropic organizations, we hope to increase overall philanthropic giving.”
The Greater New Orleans Foundation is the community foundation serving the 13-parish Greater New Orleans metropolitan area. We design and lead initiatives that improve the region, connect donors to community needs, identify and support great nonprofits, and strengthen civil society.
