It’s often chilly in the Rex den in mid-January, but it’s worth it for the crowd as it is a chance to get a sneak peek at the fantastical floats parading Mardi Gras. More importantly, though, they are there to hear the krewe’s Pro Bono Publico Foundation announce which organizations (with a focus on education) will be receiving grants.
In 2025, the foundation awarded more than $1.2 million in grants to organizations and fulfilled installments of multi-year strategic commitments. Among the 66 beneficiaries are the New Orleans Military and Maritime Academy, New Orleans Center of the Creative Arts and St. Augustine High School.
“When Rex’s leaders assessed the community’s needs following Hurricane Katrina, they recognized the importance of helping New Orleans’ public school children reach further toward their potential, and they launched the Pro Bono Publico Foundation, which takes its name from Rex’s motto, Pro Bono Publico, for the public good,” said Storey Charbonnet, chairman of the Pro Bono Publico Foundation.
“Since its establishment in 2007, the Pro Bono Publico Foundation has raised and granted more than $14 million and partners with a number of education organizations to support our community’s public school students.”
Rex, founded in 1872, isn’t the only Carnival organization that gives back to the community. Like Rex, some have separate foundations while other krewes, which by city ordinance are set-up as nonprofits, give to charities and other organizations at their discretion.
A Tradition of Giving
The Krewe of Iris, established in 1917, recently introduced the SHADES initiative — named after the iconic sunglasses members hand out in the parade, which is the Saturday before Mardi Gras.
Launched in fall 2024, the SHADES initiative showcases the krewe’s commitment to supporting the community, focusing on safety, health, arts, development and education. Its goal is to foster success filled futures for women and children — “because their future is so bright, they’ve got to wear SHADES!” said a krewe representative.
For the first SHADES event, the krewe served as the title sponsor for the Sideline Pass 10th Annual Holiday Toy & Gift Drive, benefiting children living in shelters and group foster care homes across South Louisiana. The krewe not only collected more than 400 gifts for teens in foster care and shelters across Southeast Louisiana, it contributed a monetary donation that will become a “Krewe of Iris Scholarship” awarded through the Sideline Pass organization this spring.
“By extending our time, resources and love beyond Mardi Gras, we aim to continue spreading joy, providing support and making a positive impact on women and children’s lives. This generosity not only helps those in need but also strengthens our bonds with each other, with the hope of making the future just a little bit brighter,” said Sarah Nieuwenhuizen, an officer representing the krewe.
The Hermes Beyond the Parade Foundation was formed in 2013 for Krewe of Hermes to positively impact the community.
The krewe, known for parading on Friday night before Mardi Gras, was founded in 1937.
The foundation benefits first responders, with a focus on police, fire and crime prevention via grants or strategic gifts, often funding areas of need that may be not provided by city budgets.
Among the programs it has funded are the New Orleans Police Department canine officers and horses, as well as digital forensic equipment.
The Krewe of Okeanos, named for the Greek god of the earth-encircling river Oceanos, was founded in 1949 and parades the Sunday before Mardi Gras. While impressing crowds with its floats, the krewe also steps up with its philanthropy.
Like a number of krewes, giving back to the community has been done through the club. About three years ago, the krewe started the Friends of Okeanos to put something more formal in place.
“Our hard-working members and officers have consistently worked to do everything necessary to put on a great parade and give back wherever possible. Friends of Okeanos allows us to do both,” said a krewe representative.
Among the groups it donates to is St. Jude’s Hospital.
The Krewe of Carrollton has worked with Arc of Greater New Orleans over the past five years having its members decorate some of its embellished shrimp boots, a signature throw handed to crowds when the krewe rolls on the Sunday of the first weekend of parades.
The students have fun with the project, says a krewe representative, and it makes a donation to the Arc for its efforts. The krewe also assists the Arc with its Christmas giving project.
Founded in 1924, Carrollton also supports Wounded Warriors and WeBo Giving, which raises funds for children with cancer. A new project is Walker’s Imaginarium (through Kids Join the Fight) in Children’s Hospital New Orleans. When completed, the area will provide an innovative environment for patients and families to enjoy time together while in the hospital. The krewe pledged $10,000.
The krewe’s biggest push is the Krewe of Alex, which was started by the Krewe of Carrollton, along with the Krewes of Thoth, Sparta, Isis and Excalibur. They have generated more than $300,000 over the past seven years to assist families with children diagnosed with NF1. Much of its funds go to the Children’s Tumor Foundation and the University of Alabama Birmingham for research.
The benefit was started in the name of Alex Larsen, the grandson of the Captain of Thoth, Penny Larsen.
“Our endeavors might be small, but our members are very dedicated to each endeavor. We certainly hope that we can continue to support all of these and more efforts in the future,” says Krewe of Carrollton Captain Wayne Lee.
With its signature throw as a bedazzled grail, the Krewe of King Arthur is a favorite on the parade route on Sunday for the first weekend of parades.
It’s newly formed philanthropic arm, Camelot Nation, supports causes that promote inclusivity while honoring Carnival tradition.
The Camelot Nation Arts Scholarship is awarded to high school marching bands participating in the parade, thereby providing vital support for music and arts education, empowering the next generation of creative leaders, said its press release.
Throughout the year, the krewe, founded in 1977, and its Camelot Nation is busy with other fundraisers such as the Thanks-a-Lot Flower, Ask an Expert Sessions (how to make the fabulous grails) and the Grail Raffle. An upcoming event this spring is Wigs & Wine.
“Through its efforts, Camelot Nation and the Krewe of King Arthur are turning the magic of Mardi Gras into meaningful, lasting change, says Philip Fricano, captain of the Krewe of King Arthur.
“New” Krewes Founded With Philanthropy In Mind
When the Krewe of Muses was founded in 2001, it prioritized charitable giving.
“Obviously, giving back to the community is the raise d’être of all Mardi Gras parades, but since its inception, the Krewe of Muses has striven to involve and benefit area residents in more meaningful ways,” says Staci Rosenberg, the krewe’s founder and captain.
The krewe, which rolls on the Thursday before Mardi Gras (aka Muses Thursday), formally set up a donor-advised fund with Greater New Orleans Foundation — the Krewe of Muses Foundation — after Hurricane Katrina.
The foundation mainly focuses on women, children and the arts, preferring to focus on charities with a presence in New Orleans. Organizations have included Eden House, Raintree Children and Family Services and St. Jude Community Center, to name a few.
The Muses also volunteer at various events including shoe decorating workshops and sponsoring mini parades at area nursing homes. Decorated shoes created by members go to area charities to be auctioned off.
Since the krewe was established, it has had a cup decorating contest, for which Orleans Parish public middle and high school students create artwork for the krewe’s cup of the year. The winning student receives a grant for art programs for the next year and the artwork is on the thousands of cups thrown at the parade.
A Lundi Gras tradition is watching the Krewe of Orpheus parade with its focus on fun and entertainment for riders and the crowd. The krewe was co-founded in 1993 by Harry Connick Jr. on a platform of diversity and has been involved with philanthropy from its inception.
It does not distribute grants but gives back in different ways. The krewe’s partner organization is the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts, for which it will do fundraising events and auctions. The krewe also donates “experiences” of Orpheuscapade tickets and guest rider memberships to other organizations, such as Animal Rescue of New Orleans, New Orleans Medical Mission and Son of a Saint, to auction off at their fundraising events.
“Orpheus’ very origin is about bringing together the community and what better way to do that than to support the causes which serve it,” said Captain Sonny Borey. “Our philanthropic outreach is as diverse as our membership and represents the very best of what makes New Orleans the magical place that it is.”
The Legion of Mars, founded in 2013, salutes active military, veterans and first responders. It was part of other krewes’ parades until 2023, when it first rolled on its own the Saturday of the first weekend of parades.
The krewe’s Mars Hero Fund was established in 2024 to provide philanthropic support for veterans, active and reserve military, Purple Heart recipients, Gold Star families and first responders including police, fire, EMT and 911 call center representatives.
“The Mars Hero Fund is dedicated to those who work tirelessly for the public good and safety of our country and its citizens, those who have sacrificed and continue to sacrifice – our unsung heroes,” said W.M. Turner, Captain, Supply Corps, USN (Retired), president of the Mars Hero Fund.
Among the activities the organization does is funding veterans, Gold Star families and first responders to ride in the parade and attend the ball; feeding and providing care packages to National Guard members who are called up or activated; assisting the National Park Service in planting and recovering flags on graves in the Chalmette National Cemetery and hosting an annual luncheon for veterans at the VA Hospital on Veterans Day.
The Krewe of Freret falls somewhere in-between new and old. It started parading in 1953, but stopped in 1994. In 2011, a group of Loyola University alumni revived the krewe with the first parade in 2014. The krewe rolls the first Saturday of Carnival parades.
The krewe was founded with a goal of benefiting the local community, using as many local vendors, such as suppliers of throws, and musicians as possible. Even before Freret received its parade permit, it was donating hours to beautifying Freret Street and working with local nonprofits.
The krewe’s primary beneficiary is Son of a Saint, and the boys (mentees) are on a float for free as celebrity riders. This year, the krewe is debuting the Son of a Saint float. The krewe also partners with the Trombone Shorty Foundation, which rides in the parade as well.
Starting this year, the krewe is banning generic plastic beads thrown from the float. As these beads are among the culprits clogging catch basins/storm drains, it dovetails with a krewe initiative of cleaning catch basins/storm drains throughout the year.
“Giving back to New Orleans is at the heart of what we do at the Krewe of Freret, recognizing there are 364 other days of the year where we can provide a positive impact beyond parade day,” said Greg Rhoades, krewe co-founder and captain emeritus.
“Freret believes in supporting local organizations like Son of a Saint, which makes a profound impact on the lives of young men in our community. By investing in these programs, we help build a stronger, more vibrant New Orleans for everyone.”
The temperatures may have been freezing Jan. 6, 2025, but the Krewe of Joan of Arc still kicked off Carnival in its signature creative style.
The krewe was founded in 2008 by Amy Kirk-Duvoisin.
The krewe coordinates free educational events through the year, such as going into schools doing presentations about Joan of Arc and its annual Salon de Jeanne d’Arc, a conference with lectures and panel discussions about history, politics and pop culture, as well as about the parade. The organization also donates its saint medals to the St. Louis Cathedral to sell in the shop, raising funds for the church.
Note: For this article the focus was on krewes that have parades. It is not a complete list of these parading krewes, as well as Carnival organizations and walking groups, so be sure research what they are doing to give back to the community. Some choose not to make this information public.
As a way to help emerging artists, since 2020 the krewe has held a Joan of Arc art contest with winners able to display and sell their work at Ariodante Gallery.
Lundi Gras afternoon in the Marigny wouldn’t be the same without the Krewe of Red Beans. A walking parade founded in 2008 by Devin De Wulf, the bean-adorned costumes members wear add another element of personal creativity to the Carnival mix.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, the krewe stepped up in a major way, launching Feed the Second Line NOLA, which raised $1 million, supporting 45 local restaurants and distributing 90,000 meals to emergency rooms and ICUs in New Orleans, said De Wulf in an email. Those making deliveries were often musicians, who got paid for doing so.
Instead of strictly fundraising, the krewe “works to create programs… the things we are creating are diverse and eclectic, but all geared towards building a vibrant community,” said De Wulf.
The krewe is working on developing its headquarters, Beanlandia, to drive philanthropic impact. Kids programs, promoting climate and sustainability and bringing people together are amongst its goals.
“We believe our little bean parade has had a solid impact over the past four years,” said De Wulf. “We hope to continue that into the long term to support the community we love.”
And that’s what Carnival is all about.
