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Saints Award 25K to Area Community QBs
Nick Karl, NewOrleansSaints.com
Friday, December 21, 2007 - 11:00 AM
The New Orleans Saints announced today that Kendal Francis of Metairie is the 2007 winner of the Saints Community Quarterback Award. This annual award given by the Saints is part of a national volunteer recognition program that has donated nearly $1 million to community organizations served by outstanding volunteers. Individuals exhibiting leadership, dedication and commitment to improving their community are qualified candidates for the award, which goes to the agency the recipient represents.
Francis will receive a grant for $10,000 to Blessed 26. Blessed 26 provides an intense and exciting experience for New Orleans at risk students, designed to help them to define what success means for them and a path to attain the personal life skills necessary to achieve their goals. Through Blessed 26, students are challenged to break through barriers, expand their comfort zones, and gain skills to improve their attitudes.
The Saints will award an additional $15,000 in grant monies to runners-up for the award. Each of the following runners-up will receive a grant in their name for the non-profit organization they represent:
$5,000 Grant Recipients:
Steve Duvernay – St. Tammany Association for Retarded Citizens
Barry Guillot – LaBranche Wetland Watchers
$1,000 Grant Recipients:
Miriam Delaune – Girls Scout Council of Southeast Louisiana
Leroy Hollins – Louisiana Youth Football
Rockwell Livingston – CASA New Orleans
Dallas McGlinn – The New Orleans Mission
Dr. Raymond Unland – Louisiana Foundation of Dentistry for the Handicapped
"We are proud to annually recognize outstanding volunteer citizens in our community," said Saints Owner/ Executive Vice President Rita Benson LeBlanc. "These organizations provide care, services and hope to people in need from all walks of life. This year's committee selected several inspirational recipients who, along with their representative organizations, are essential to building a stronger, healthier and more united community.”
Individuals age 13 and over who provide volunteer services for nonprofit organizations were eligible for participation. Participants must have served in a volunteer capacity at an official 501(c)3 organization and should not receive compensation for their services.
All grant award winners will be recognized during a ceremony held at the Superdome prior to the Saints' Dec. 23 contest vs. Philadelphia. Grant checks will be distributed to the non-profit Organizations represented by these volunteers.
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