It is almost unbelievable that we are celebrating the 20th anniversary of St. Charles Avenue! This three-fold cover is a first for us and a tribute to all of you and to the Activists those who’ve worked so hard to make New Orleans the best city in the world to live in because of all of their selfless acts for the nonprofits they support through not only monetary contributions but also the countless volunteer hours!
There was no way to put all of the honorees on our cover, so please look to our feature for more on who they are, as well as the personal statements from many of our activists who answered our call to explain why activism is so important to them. The best part of our job at the magazine is to spotlight all of the nonprofits and special causes that New Orleanians care about!
As I write this, I’ve just found out that one of our activists and friends, famed musician and singer-songwriter Allen Toussaint, has passed away. We have lost a New Orleans legend and our city has lost one of its best ambassadors! He was a true gentleman, kind, elegant, generous and a friend to so many nonprofits.
He has helped me on every project I’ve chaired over the many years that I’ve known him, and I’m sure many of you can say the same thing. He performed at Dollars for Scholars in the 1980s, Zoo-To-Do in ’99 and wrote songs for both of these organizations as a gift. He loved the SPCA, YAYA, New Orleans Artists Against Hunger and Homelessness, which he co-founded with Aaron Neville, and so many more. Whenever he played for YAYA, the young students were inspired and he always took time to take a picture with each one and encourage each of them and their artistic efforts! I know that he’s playing now for all of the other angels and shining a bright light for everyone – just like he did here! We will miss him and send our condolences to his children and family. The family would like donations to go to NOAAAHH in lieu of flowers and the nonprofit will be presenting a benefit concert on the 8th.
New Orleans: Life and Death in the Big Easy uses photo juxtaposition to portray New Orleans culture as seen through the lens of one of our favorite photojournalists, Cheryl Gerber. The photos span 20 years and include many iconic moments. A perfect gift!
Surround yourself with those you love this holiday season,
Bev
I began working on St. Charles Avenue almost eight years ago. Stepping into the incredibly large, metaphorically of course, shoes of the consummate Sue Strachan, I can say now that I might have been a little out of my depth. I wasn’t born in New Orleans and wasn’t raised in its social scene, but thanks to the welcoming and enlightening tutelage of the incomparable Bev Church, I’ve learned how giving, kind and honest those involved in local philanthropy are, and how welcoming they can be to anyone who’s likewise interested in giving of their time and efforts.
I feel incredibly blessed to have helped shepherd Avenue into its second decade, and for the relationships, laughs, tears and memorable moments that working on this magazine has given me.
Among those tears are ones I’ve shed for our two Activists who have passed away: Dr. E. Ralph Lupin and Allen Toussaint. I was privileged to have known both men personally. Each was a hero in his own way and larger than life, and each is missed by many – including me.
But we’re not going to rest on our laurels; we’ve got lasting favorites and new surprises up our sleeves for 2016
See you in the new year!
Morgan
“Home for the Holidays” is a spectacular night of art and music benefiting the Daniel Price Memorial Fund for Aspiring Artists, which honors the memory of NOCCA alumnus Daniel Price. Pictured here from last year’s event are Trombone Shorty, Daniel’s father Dr. Steve Price and Jon Batiste.
In keeping with Daniel’s twin passions for art and music, the fund provides scholarships for outstanding visual arts and music students at NOCCA.
This year’s event will take place Tuesday, December 22, at the House of Blues at 6 p.m. for the Patron Party and at 7:30 for the general gala. For more information and to purchase tickets call 310-4999.
EVENTS
December
1 “A.I. Botnick Torch of Liberty Award Dinner,” benefiting The Anti-Defamation League, 780-5602, new-orleans@adl.org
4 “Fête de Noel,” benefiting the Ladies Leukemia League, Inc., LadiesLeukemiaLeague.org/fete.htm
5 “Opera Ball,” benefiting the Women’s Guild of New Orleans Opera Association, 267-9527, gklein@neworleansopera.org
8 “A Tribute to Allen Toussaint Featuring Paul Simon and Friends,” a benefit concert presented by New Orleans Artists Against Hunger and Homelessness (NOAAHH), LePetitTheatre.com, NOAAHH.org
22 “Home for the Holidays, benefiting the Daniel Price Memorial Fund for Aspiring Artists and the NOCCA Institute, 310-4999
Note: The January 2016 issue of St. Charles Avenue will, as always, include the Registry of Charitable Events: January-April. If you have a nonprofit event taking place during those months, please fill out our form found at the following link as soon as possible: MyNewOrleans.com/CharitableEvent.
