NEW ORLEANS (press release) – Son of a Saint will host its signature fundraising event, the 2023 Annual Gala, on Friday, Nov. 17, in partnership with the Four Seasons New Orleans Hotel. This year’s gala is presented by Latter & Blum and Ochsner Health, and co-chaired by Latter & Blum Chairman and Owner Bob Merrick and his wife Sheryl Merrick. The sold-out Son of a Saint Annual Gala returns for the 10th time, raising critical awareness and funding to support the youth development nonprofit’s myriad programs and initiatives, including holistic mentorship, life skills development, and a full-spectrum of educational and enrichment opportunities provided to hundreds of fatherless young men throughout Greater New Orleans.
Preceding the main event, attendees will be welcomed with a patron party beginning at 6 p.m. presented by RYCARS Construction, LLC and supported by event partners including Moët-Hennessy, Brown-Forman, Cajun Caviar, and the Link Restaurant Group and the Link Stryjewski Foundation. Gala guests will then enjoy the official ceremony, including a welcome from Son of a Saint Ambassador, Board Member, Super Bowl Champion, and New Orleans Saints Hall of Famer Marques Colston, who will be joined onstage by four Son of a Saint mentees. The ceremony will also feature musical entertainment from Zahria Sims Trio, along with a three-course dinner, open bar, and a dynamic live and silent auction. Son of a Saint alumnus and the organization’s 2017 Mente of the Year Zander Dunbar will take the stage during the ceremony to deliver a keynote address. As Son of a Saint continues its crucial work of enhancing the lives of fatherless young men throughout the New Orleans area, all proceeds generated from the event will directly support the organization’s core mission and future growth.
Hero sponsors for the gala include Greg Keller Foundation and RYCARS Construction, LLC, while the event’s Marquee sponsors include Asher-Meyers, LLC, Kenneth and Florencia Polite, Providers’ Choice Laboratory, and Window World of New Orleans.
Members of the 2023 Son of a Saint Annual Gala Host Committee include Carol and Harold Asher, Marques and Emily Colston, Lyell and Valerie Dampeer, Nadia de la Houssaye, Nadia Vreeland, and Oliver Vreeland, Sarah and Daniel Fletcher, Ashley and Tim Francis, George and Cheryl Lilly, Jeffrey and Kristy Meyers, as well as Jerell and Tanya Thomas.
Through generous in-kind sponsorship, Wink Design & Events will provide event design and décor services. Audiovisual production will be overseen by Corporate Lighting and Audio. Brown-Forman and Moët-Hennessy are generously providing additional spirits and libations throughout the evening, along with Urban South Brewery.
Son of a Saint will host a dynamic afterparty experience, presented by Greg Keller Foundation for all event guests immediately following the gala dinner, from 9:30 p.m. til after midnight inside the hotel’s River Ballroom. The afterparty will feature live musical entertainment from T-Ray the Violinist and DJ RQ Away, along with a premium open bar and an interactive photo booth provided by Mirror Image Photo Booth Company.
“We’re completely thrilled to continue this yearly tradition and to host our largest signature event and fundraiser at a brand-new venue in partnership with the Four Seasons New Orleans,” says Son of a Saint Founder and CEO Bivian “Sonny” Lee III. “As we welcome all those who enthusiastically support and believe in our mission, we reflect on how fortunate we’ve been to achieve recent successes, but also set our sights on how much work we still have ahead of us as we envision the growth and accomplishments of Son of a Saint yet to come,” he continues. “Each and every year, this event offers the opportunity to acknowledge our boys and the talented individuals and mentors who collectively fuel our organization. We would not be where we are today without this collective support.”
Son of a Saint holistically serves youth between the ages of 10 and 21, providing mentorship, education, mental health services, and travel experiences to expand horizons, in addition to internship and career-development learning opportunities. The organization currently serves over 260 young men across Greater New Orleans, including nearly 200 mentees and alumni through its core program , and over 70 students in the New Orleans community via impactful scholarship support awarded through the Son of a Saint Scholars program.
For more information about Son of a Saint, its current activities, upcoming opportunities, and its overall future growth plans, please visit www.sonofasaint.org or call (504) 561-7508. Son of a Saint also welcomes other contributions, which can be mailed to: P.O. Box 19205, New Orleans, LA 70179.
