*Letter Received 3/24/09 in response to the Grande Ronde Med Spa's Mardi Gras Give Back

Dear Dr. McQueen,

In commemoration of the 3rd Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, which devastated teh Gulf Coast on August 29, 2005, New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity celebrated the dedication of 8 new homes.  It was a celebration of resilience, renewal, and the realization of the dream of home ownership for our hardworking partner families.  Thank you for making the dream of home ownership attainable.

Post-Katrina, NOAHH has continued our mission to eradicate poverty housing.  Together with our partner families, volunteers and donors from around the country, we have completed over 140 homes in New Orleans and surrounding parishes.  That equates to 140 families who now have a safe, decent place to call their own.  Thank you for providing a hand up, and not just a hand out.

Over fifty of our new partner families now reside in Musician's Village, which when completed will include 70 single family homes, five elder duplexes, a toddler-friendly pocket park and the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music.  Thanks to your support NOAHH will continue to build a community as well as houses.

Thank you,

Lyelle J. Bellard

Development Associate