The Saints Gulf Coast Renewal Fund announced today they have donated $500,000 to local charities who are responding to the recent oil spill disaster. Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans and The Greater New Orleans Foundation have each been granted $250,000 from the fund.

As the lead agency in the initial response effort, Catholic Charities has served an estimated 23,800 people (9,159 families) with emergency assistance including direct aid, food assistance, crisis counseling and case management.  Catholic Charities began its response to the oil spill crisis on April 28, 2010.  They are primarily working at seven sites - five counseling and case management centers in the areas of New Orleans East, Lafitte, and St. Bernard and Plaquemines Parishes, and two counseling and referral sites in Breton Sound and Venice.

With the Gulf Coast Oil Spill Fund, the Greater New Orleans Foundation serves as a conduit between the donor community and their nonprofit partners. They fund philanthropic dollars back into the affected communities on short and long-term bases. Short-term: The fund is making emergency grants to nonprofit organizations helping the victims of the oil spill. Long-term: The fund will help address the long-term economic, environmental, cultural effects of the disaster, and strengthen coastal communities against future environmental catastrophes by investing in solutions.

The entry deadline for the Saints Super Bowl Ring Raffle was extended to the pre-game (approximately 7:00PM ET) of the club's September 20 Monday Night Football game against the San Francisco 49ers. The Winner will be announced live during ESPN's game programming on Monday night and on NewOrleansSaints.com. The Saints Gulf Coast Renewal Fund has also announced that it has added a trip to New Orleans for the winner of the raffle, and a guest, to enjoy the city and attend a Saints Game.  

Saints Owner Tom Benson first announced the raffle on June 10 and tickets have been, and will continue to be, available for $2 each. Tickets are available online at www.saintsgulfcoastrenewal.com. To date the fund is over $1.5 million to benefit those affected directly by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The Super Bowl ring raffle has risen to over $1.3 million, with an additional $150,000 raised through the NFL's Kickoff auction last week.