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New Orleans, LA – The Home Builders Association of Greater New Orleans is reaching out to help Louisiana fishermen and other parish residents hit hard by the Deepwater Horizon oil well explosion. The HBA has partnered with Catholic Charities in a fundraiser that will occur during the inaugural launch of the New Orleans Home+Interior Design Show scheduled for September 17-19th at the Morial Convention Center. The fundraiser will center on what has become an iconic symbol in South Louisiana -- the white shrimp boot. Local and national celebrities have been asked to personally design, decorate and autograph a shrimp boot that will then be raffled off during the New Orleans Home+Interior Design Show. Saints Coach Sean Payton, Chef John Besh of local and national fame, Chef Brian Landry of Galatoire’s Restaurant and NBC news anchor and former New Orleans resident Hoda Kotb are among the celebrities decorating boots.
“We really wanted to do something for our fellow Louisianaians who are really hurting due to the oil spill,” explains Mike Zalaznik, show manager of the Interior Design Show. “We tossed out a few ideas, but the symbol of the white shrimp boot kept coming to mind so we thought it would be fun to have celebrities decorate them and then we raffle them off. We have encouraged our celebrity artists to really let their personality shine so it’s going to be exciting what they create.”
All proceeds from the raffle tickets will go to the Catholic Charities Oil Spill Relief Fund. Catholic Charities is currently operating several relief centers to assist individuals and families impacted by the oil spill. To date, nearly 9,000 people have been helped with such things as obtaining food, medical and crisis counseling among many the many services being offered (http://www.ccano.org).
Raffle tickets will be available closer to the event. The price will be $5 per chance or three chances for $10. (Home+Interior Design Show: http://www.nolahomeanddesignshow.com/
