The Greater New Orleans Foundation is accepting applications from hospitality industry workers for grants up to $1,000. The grants are made possible by donations from New Orleans Saints and Pelicans owner Gayle Benson and the McIlhenny Company.
“Service and hospitality workers are the backbone of this region’s economy,” said GNOF President & CEO, Andy Kopplin. “Thanks to the generosity of Mrs. Benson, the Tabasco® brand and the McIlhenny family, we have the opportunity to support hospitality workers and their families and help them make ends meet in these difficult times.”
“Thanks to the Greater New Orleans Foundation, Mrs. Gayle Benson, and McIlhenny Company, some of the most vulnerable families who depend on the earnings of service and hospitality workers will get much needed help,” said Stan Harris, CEO of the Louisiana Restaurant Association.
To qualify, individuals applying must also:
- Have earned below 80 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI) prior to the COVID-19 pandemic
- Worked more than 32 hours per week in restaurants, bars, or hotels in the Greater New Orleans Foundation’s 13-parish region prior to March 9, 2020
To apply for an award, visit GNOF's online grants portal at www.gnof.org/grants. The application portal will open at 9 a.m. Wednesday, March 25, 2020. Applications will be available in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese online only. Applications will be reviewed within 10 days and successful awards will be disbursed within 14 days.
Applicant must submit:
- Electronic copy of your driver’s license or other government-issued ID
- Pay stubs for most recent 30 days
- Copy of your most recent 2018 or 2019 federal tax form
To support this program’s expansion, the foundation asks that people please donate to the Gayle Benson Community Assistance Fund at the Greater New Orleans Foundation by visiting www.gnof.org/benson.
