New Orleans Saints and Pelicans owner Gayle Benson has donated $1 million to create the Gayle Benson Community Assistance Fund in response to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.
“We have been meeting and planning a response since the NBA’s announcement to suspend games. Our meaningful discussions have led to what we believe is the most impactful way to best serve the needs of our community as a whole,” said Benson. “The COVID-19 pandemic has had, and will continue to have, an enormous impact on our community and businesses of all sizes. We want to do our part to assist those that have been impacted in our community. We are grateful to the Greater New Orleans Foundation for their efforts in helping us get these funds to those in our community facing hardship due to the residual impact of COVID-19.”
The fund is partnered with the Greater New Orleans Foundation to administer the assistance.
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“We were contacted by Mrs. Benson and her executive team to create this fund that will target those most affected by the closure of businesses and events in our city,” said Andy Kopplin President and CEO of GNOF. “Mrs. Benson, with her organizations, has always been someone that this community looks to for leadership. Today is no different. We were so honored when she reached out to us to make a $1 million contribution to start the Gayle Benson Community Assistance Fund.”
Benson is also creating a separate fund to help employees of the Smoothie King Center who are losing income because of the NBA suspending its season.
