Driven by a profound commitment to give back to their community, Dan Shapiro, his wife Debbie, and daughter, Allie Shapiro Dandry, announced earlier this year the creation of the Shapiro Family Foundation. This new foundation aims to create lasting positive change throughout New Orleans by addressing disparities in hunger relief and education access, and equity.
“We envision a Louisiana where every family has access to nutritious food, every child has the opportunity to learn and succeed, and every community has the tools to thrive,” says Dan. “The Shapiro Family Foundation is rooted in our family’s legacy of service and civic leadership, and we believe that sustainable change is built through collaboration, trust, and a deep understanding of local needs.”
In a city where generosity is as abundant as gumbo and grits, the Shapiro Family Foundation’s philanthropic voice has emerged with purpose and heart. They hosted their inaugural Nourish & Flourish Awards Ceremony on September 24 at the Junior League of New Orleans, where they presented four deserving nonprofits with $40,000 in grant funding. Each recipient was selected for its commitment to serving low-income and under-resourced communities, with a focus on dismantling systemic barriers to food security and education.
The honorees include: UnCommon Construction, which will use funding to provide transportation and meals for its apprentices, ensuring young builders arrive nourished and ready to learn, Early Partners, whose grant supports a Language & Literacy Specialist to coach educators and improve early childhood literacy outcomes, Raintree Children & Family Services, expanding holistic nutrition support for children and families navigating foster care, poverty and trauma, and Lantern Light, whose “Healthy Eating for a Healthier Life” initiative brings fresh food and nutrition education to unhoused and low-income individuals.
“We are incredibly proud to support these four organizations that are making a real difference in the lives of New Orleanians,” says Allie, Executive Director of the foundation. “These inaugural grants are a significant step toward our mission of addressing the core issues of food insecurity and educational inequity. We believe that by investing in these local leaders, we can help build a stronger, more equitable future for our city.”
In addition to the grant awards, the Shapiro Family Foundation also recognized two nonprofits for their outstanding contributions to the community through Community Impact Awards. These recognitions were presented to Amanda and Chef Isaac Toups of Toups’ Family Meal and Clover New Orleans.
The Shapiro Family Foundation’s next grant cycle will open for applications in January 2026. Nonprofits interested in applying can find more information on the foundation’s website, shapirofamilyfoundation.com, in the coming months.
Shapiro Family Foundation | 504-432-6095 | shapirofamilyfoundation.com
