While the Four Seasons New Orleans Hotel hosts its fair share of VIPs, on the evening of Nov. 17 it was the site of a special gathering of people who created a philanthropic touchdown.
The event was the Son of a Saint Gala. Founded by Bivian “Sonny” Lee in 2011 to address the problem of fatherless boys, its mission is to enhance their “lives through mentorship, emotional, support, development of life skills, exposure to constructive experiences and formation of positive, lasting peer-to-peer relationships.”
To emphasize this point, the gala keynote speaker was a Son of a Saint graduate named Zander Dunbar. He graduated from St. Augustine High School in 2022 and now attends Tulane University, where he excels in academics and track.
As fundraising was a focus, the live auction featured six lots that saw Emeril Lagasse Foundation President Brian Kish and TV personality Tamica Lee in charge of garnering bids from attendees.
The top-earning lot was a trip to the Castellaras Villa in the South of France, which was donated by Nancy and Matt Rebold and won by Stephanie and Ryan Burks.
A silent auction offered 21 lots that included an array of food, beverage, travel, dining, retail and other goods/services.
“The Son of a Saint Gala was exceptional and I would like to congratulate the wonderful staff, volunteers, and planning committee members that were responsible for putting the event together,” said Bob Merrick, who co-chaired the event with his wife, Sheryl Merrick.
Fun Fact: The 2023 gala experience raised more than $3 million dollars for Son of a Saint, including two surprise gifts of $1 million each presented on stage by Bob Merrick and by Ochsner Health CEO Pete November.
