Pioneers volunteer to assist city, students
Nearly 700 Pioneers sparked change in the city of New Orleans during the Annual Meeting February 26-28 at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside Hotel.
In keeping with the meeting theme, Igniting the Spark of Change, Pioneers conducted a beautification of New Orleans City Park and donated 1,500 backpacks filled with school supplies and our reading program, “Power Up To Read” to students in the city.
On a day that got hotter with each passing hour, 600 Pioneers rolled up their sleeves and worked two shifts cleaning and restoring City Park. Pioneers pulled weeds, planted flowers, refurbished a fishing pier, playground area, and centerpiece fountain.
After working in the park, Pioneers Chairman Dave Nichols, President Marty Lee and Group Vice Presidents Dan Katze, and Steve Kohn personally delivered 200 backpacks and copies of our reading program, “Power Up To Read” children at St. Louis Cathedral Elementary School in the French Quarter.
The remaining backpacks were delivered to schools throughout the city in the weeks that followed.