We are looking for a million friends to declare their support for New Orleans and surrounding parishes.Friends of New Orleans is a private, non-profit, non-partisan, membership organization for people in the U.S. and abroad who care about the region. Our mission is to advocate for New Orleans and its surrounding parishes, inform people of those key issues that are shaping the national debate and decision making of the rebuilding effort, link individuals who want to help with the communities in the devastated areas and motivate people to take part in the rebuilding effort.
Sen. Landrieu presents Hero Award to St. Bernard Project
On Saturday, May 3, at a construction site for local nonprofit St. Bernard Project, Senator Mary Landrieu (D-La.) presented the organization with a Hero of the Storm award for its efforts to help the residents of St. Bernard parish rebuild and move back to their homes post hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The St. Bernard Project has been chosen as the fourth recipient of the award by Friends of New Orleans (FONO), a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization that advocates for New Orleans and its surrounding parishes.
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New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation Named as 'Hero'
April 21 - Friends of New Orleans (FONO), a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization that advocates for New Orleans and its surrounding parishes, today announced that The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation (NOJHF) will be the third recipient of its Hero of the Storm award. NOJHF, the 501(c)(3) arm of the world famous festival, is being recognized for its outstanding efforts to preserve Louisiana’s local arts culture.
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What you still don't know about Katrina
Click here to read the updated article by John Barry, FONO Board Member, author of "Rising Tide: The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 and How It Changed America", and member of the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority.
Urge Congress to provide funding for 100 year storm protection by signing this petition!
Women of the Storm Honored as 'Hero of the Storm'
March 27 - Friends of New Orleans (FONO) today announced that local New Orleans advocacy group, Women of the Storm, will be the second recipient of its Hero of the Storm award. The organization is being honored for its tireless efforts to enlist national support for the rebuilding of New Orleans and coastal Louisiana in the wake of hurricanes Katrina and Rita.Continue reading "Women of the Storm Honored as 'Hero of the Storm'"
Tipitina's Foundation and Fats Domino Honored as FONO's First Heroes of the Storm
On Saturday, February 23 at an 80th birthday celebration for Fats Domino that featured performances by nationally recognized musicians Randy Newman, Allen Toussaint, and Dr. John, FONO presented its first Hero of the Storm award to Fats Domino and The Tipitina’s Foundation for their significant contributions to preserving the unique music culture of Louisiana. The awards were presented at Tipitina’s by FONO Board Member and Louisiana native, James Carville, and FONO Chairman, Gloria Dittus.Continue reading "Tipitina's Foundation and Fats Domino Honored as FONO's First Heroes of the Storm"
DC Briefing on New Orleans' Cultural Recovery
Experts and leaders from community groups driving the effort to preserve the distinctive architecture, arts, music and cuisine of Louisiana shared their perspectives on the state of the region’s cultural recovery in a Washington, DC briefing organized by FONO on February 12. The briefing took place one week after Mardi Gras, after visitors from all over the world traveled to New Orleans to take part in the celebration, and enjoy the traditional food, music and art found only in this region.Continue reading "DC Briefing on New Orleans' Cultural Recovery"
FONO 'Heroes of the Storm' Campaign
Do you know of a Louisiana nonprofit organization that has made a significant contribution to the recovery effort? Numerous local groups have stepped up to drive the rebuilding of the region in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and we believe it's time they were recognized for their work. FONO has partnered with Louisiana Association of Nonprofit Organizations (LANO) and Unified Nonprofits to highlight the work of these remarkable organizations by announcing a new nonprofit 'Hero of the Storm' each month, with the first one to be announced in late February. If you would like to nonminate an organization, send an email to heroes@friendsofneworleans.org to request a nomination form.
For more information on the program, click here.
FONO Responds to the State of the Union Address
January 29, 2008: Friends of New Orleans (FONO) welcomes the announcement from President Bush in his State of the Union speech last night that New Orleans will be the site of the North American Summit this April, particularly since the city was recently overlooked as a site to host a presidential debate next fall. While the Summit will give the city another chance to show that it is indeed capable of accommodating large events, as it did successfully for the Sugar Bowl and the BCS Championship earlier this month, it is imperative that the administration and Congress place a greater focus on the region in 2008.
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The Clock Is Ticking for the Wetlands
In his article The Clock Is Ticking for the Wetlands, Times Picayune reporter Bob Marshall outlines what Governor-elect Bobby Jindal should do to immediately address the issue:-- He should lead an effort to give the CRPA quick-take authority over private property so projects that have been -- and will be -- delayed for years can move forward quickly enough to make a difference.
-- He should quickly move forward a plan to sell bonds on the future offshore revenue so the state will have money on hand to move forward projects without waiting for federal funding.
-- He should move aggressively to tap even more sources of revenue from energy industries that transport their riches through our state.
-- He should quickly increase the budgets and staff on the state agencies that research land titles, as well as those that will have a hand in planning and building projects.
-- He must quickly lead our congressional delegation in a national effort to have Louisiana's coastal projects taken out of the Water Resources Development Act and moved through Congress as a separate piece of legislation.
New Orleans Leaders Visit DC
On September 14, a contingent of 20 New Orleans leaders representing neighborhoods and nonprofit groups from all over the city headed to Washington, DC for a series of events organized by Friends of New Orleans (FONO). Their mission was to send a message to decision makers, thought leaders, and the general public that contrary to popular thought, the citizens of New Orleans are not just waiting for a handout, but are driving the rebuilding effort of their city largely on their own, and in innovative way.Continue reading "New Orleans Leaders Visit DC"
FONO Takes on Aspen
Friends of New Orleans, in collaboration with the Aspen Institute, sponsored a trip for several prominent New Orleans leaders in Aspen, Colorado on August 9,10 and 11. Their visit coincided with a campaign stop for Senator John Edwards, who when asked by Women of the Storm Founder Anne Milling whether he would endorse their application to host a 2008 presidential debate in New Orleans, answered with a definitive “Yes.” These New Orleans leaders later participated in various local radio and TV shows, in addition to two discussions moderated by Aspen Institute President Walter Isaacson, that focused on the state of New Orleans two years after the storm and examined how universities, local business and cutting edge nonprofits are working together in innovative and creative ways to rebuild the city. These leaders talked about the importance of coastal restoration, the educational revolution that is taking place within the city’s public schools, the role of arts and culture in the city’s rebirth, and the incredibly exciting environment that has attracted thousands of volunteers, of all ages, from all over the world.Continue reading "FONO Takes on Aspen"
