In its latest move to support New Orleans’ rich culture and community, a network of local law firms teamed up to raise $21,500 for police officers working through the Mardi Gras season. LIFT (Lawyer Initiatives for Tomorrow) has partnered with community groups to tackle several cultural and economic challenges over the past three years.
As New Orleans became an early pandemic hotspot, the group raised more than $150,000 to feed frontline health care workers and support the city’s food and music industries through the Krewe of Red Beans’ Feed the Frontline NOLA project. The krewe served thousands of meals to health care workers in area hospitals, keeping restaurants in business and hiring out-of-work musicians as delivery drivers.
In 2022, LIFT joined 180 nonprofits and businesses across the city to create the NOLA Coalition to confront crime and quality of life issues. Through a two-pronged approach, the group pledged to raise $15 million to provide community support for NOPD and invest in youth support services. LIFT is a major contributor and proud supporter of the coalitions’ ongoing efforts.
Most recently, firms donated to the New Orleans Police and Justice Foundation’s (NOPJF) Adopt-a-Cop program. Contributions from the following firms will be put to good use providing more than 900 much-needed hot meals, healthy snacks and beverages for NOPD officers working long days and nights to keep the two-week Carnival season safe and fun for residents and visitors:
- Adams and Reese LLP
- Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC
- Barrasso Usdin Kupperman Freeman & Sarver, L.L.C.
- Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, L.L.P.
- Carver, Darden, Koretzky, Tessier, Finn, Blossman & Areaux LLC
- Chaffe McCall, LLP
- Deutsch Kerrigan LLP
- Fishman Haygood LLP
- Gainsburgh, Benjamin, David, Meunier & Warshauer, L.L.C.
- Galloway, Johnson, Tompkins, Burr & Smith
- Gieger, Laborde & Laperouse, L.L.C.
- Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore LLC
- Jackson Lewis P.C.
- Johnson Yacoubian & Paysse
- Jones Walker LLP
- Kean Miller LLP
- Krebs Farley & Dry, PLLC
- Liskow & Lewis, APLC
- Lowe Stein LLC
- Lugenbuhl, Wheaton, Peck, Rankin & Hubbard
- McGlinchey Stafford PLLC
- Melchiode Marks King LLC
- Mouledoux, Bland, Legrand & Brackett, LLC
- Musgrave, McLachlan & Penn, L.L.C.
- Phelps Dunbar LLP
- Plauché Maselli Parkerson LLP
- Porteous, Hainkel & Johnson
- Salley, Hite, Mercer & Resor, LLC
- Sher Garner Cahill Richter Klein & Hilbert, L.L.C.
- Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn, LLP
- Taylor, Wellons, Politz & Duhe, LLC
One of America’s most celebrated events is Mardi Gras in New Orleans, and the NOPJF knows that no one works harder than the officers of the New Orleans Police Department, who work around the clock to make it happen. From shepherding floats through traffic and obstacles, to parade routes and the nightly French Quarter afterparty, our Krewe in Blue ensures parades roll and everyone enjoys the Mardi Gras revelry.
Since 1995, the NOPJF has promoted a safer New Orleans through supporting the men and women of the NOPD. During Carnival season, the NOPJF distributes thousands of meals not only to the NOPD, but to all local, state and federal first responders. During prolonged hours of standing on your feet, crowd control, barricade moving, bead retrieving, and helping lost children, a warm meal and a hot coffee can be life changing!
“The legal community has been incredibly generous in their support of the Foundation's Adopt-a-Cop Mardi Gras Support initiative,” said Melanie Talia, the foundation’s president and CEO. “Through their donation of $21,500, NOPJF will support all of our first responders throughout the 12 days of Carnival while revelers yell for throws, climb their ladders, and celebrate with family and friends. After all, there’d be no purple, green, and gold without the blue!"