>> Return to Newsroom
Operation Kids Announces Full Funding for Major New Orleans Project
OPERATION KIDS NEWS ANNOUNCEMENT
May 16, 2008
National Automobile Dealers Association Gives $400,000 Gift to Rebuild Major Athletic Field
SALT LAKE CITY - For the past several months, Operation Kids, an international children’s charity, has been raising funds to rebuild children’s programs and facilities in post-Katrina New Orleans. Thanks to a major gift this week from the National Automobile Dealers Charitable Foundation (NADCF), Salt Lake City-based Operation Kids moved closer to its goal and will now be able to complete its biggest project.
The NADCF announced Thursday (May 15) that they will award $400,000 to the Operation Kids campaign to use in rebuilding the Lusher Charter School athletic field in New Orleans. Lusher is a K-12 public school serving about 1550 students from across New Orleans. Its fields have been in poor condition since Lusher moved into the building following Hurricane Katrina, rendering them unusable for competition.
Once completed, the field will be used for competitive football, soccer, baseball and softball, and for physical education classes at the school. The field will also be used by neighboring schools and local recreation programs.
Lusher Charter School focuses on a high-academic college-preparatory curriculum, with early college credit classes, gifted/talented programs, and Advanced Placement courses. The school also incorporates the arts throughout the curriculum with comprehensive arts education (CAE) and an award-winning performing arts program in creative writing, dance, drama, music, and visual arts. Lusher offers a strong athletic program (22 teams) and numerous other extracurricular opportunities.
The Lusher Charter School’s athletic field is the largest project in Operation Kids’ $1.9 million “Rebuilding Dreams in New Orleans” campaign. The entire cost for the field renovation is $670,000, and together with funds contributed by the Allstate Foundation ($50,000) and Brees Dream Foundation, this project is ready for completion.
Construction will begin over the summer and should be completed before year-end.
Operation Kids announced in June 2007 its plans to rebuild classroom programs, athletic facilities, parks and playgrounds, after-school programs, mentoring programs, neighborhood revitalization projects and childcare facilities. Its partner in the campaign is the Brees Dream Foundation, established in 2003 by NFL quarterback Drew Brees and his wife Brittany to to provide care, education and opportunities for children facing adversity. For more information, visit www.drewbrees.com.
The “Rebuilding Dreams in New Orleans” campaign has so far raised nearly $1.2 million. Operation Kids hopes to raise the remaining $700,000 before the end of 2008. For more information, visit www.operationkids.com/accountability.html.
About the National Automobile Dealers Charitable Foundation
The National Automobile Dealers Charitable Foundation (NADCF) is a tax-exempt, non-profit organization that raises funds from franchised new-car and -truck dealers and friends and donates them to emergency medical and economic educational organizations and private-sector colleges and universities. For over 30 years, through the Foundation, new-car and -truck dealers have contributed nearly $10 million to communities throughout the nation.
About Operation Kids
Operation Kids is a 501(c)(3) non profit organization dedicated to serving the needs of the Whole Child - their education, health, safety and well-being. Founded in 1999 in Salt Lake City, Utah, the mission of Operation Kids is to assemble a global community of diverse, qualified and measurably effective charities, each addressing aspects of the Whole Child. These charities have earned the "OK Charity" designation, which means individual and corporate donors alike can give with confidence and expect accountability and results. Current OK Charities include Best Buddies, Children's Organ Transplant Association (COTA), Christmas Box House, Forever Young Foundation, National McGruff House Network, Operation Smile, Right-to-Play and 100% for Kids. More information is available at www.operationkids.org.
Return to Top