Slidell Alumni Hurricane Relief Fund

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December 7, 2005 SHS CLASS OF 1984 HELPING REBUILD EACH OTHER'S LIVES
by Betsy Swenson, St. Tammany News

January 1, 2006 N.Y. GOLFERS RAISE SOME GREEN FOR STORM AID
by Andrew Canulette, The Times Picayune

March 9, 2006 RAFFLES TO HELP FAMILIES IN NEED
by Beth Martin, The Times-Picayune, St. Tammany Bureau

SHS CLASS OF 1984 HELPING REBUILD EACH OTHER'S LIVES
BY BETSY V. SWENSON
ST. TAMMANY NEWS
Wednesday, December 7, 2005
SLIDELL - Betsy Severs Campbell was standing amidst construction and chaos in her flooded-out French Branch home when she heard a knock on her front door.
A few minutes later, she was holding a check, given to her by members of her high school graduating class - the Slidell High School Class of 1984. Appropriately, the check was written in the amount of $1,984.
Through individual donations and the fund-raising efforts of many of their class members, the SHS Class of '84 has managed to raise an astounding $70,000 for the Hurricane Katrina relief effort. And so far the class has identified 10 families among them who are in need of immediate relief because of damage to their homes caused by the storm.
"It's just incredible that so many people, whether they're our classmates or friends of our classmates or strangers, have responded so generously," said Campbell.
It was about a week after Katrina rolled ashore that members of the SHS Class of '84 put together a non-profit organization to benefit those affected by the hurricane.
Ever since their 20-year reunion was held July 31, 2004, the class members, now living all over the country, had been in touch via a Web site created by Class of '84 graduate Tony Beard. Through posts on the site's message boards and photo albums filled with pictures of their weddings and children, the SHS Class of '84 members kept up-to-date on one another's lives, continuing the bond they all shared in high school.
So when Hurricane Katrina hit Slidell, class members flocked to the Web site, desperate for news from home.
"The site was an important source of information coming out of Slidell," said Beard. "A lot of our classmates still have family in Slidell, and many of our classmates still live in Slidell themselves."
As the severity of the storm's aftermath became known, the class members realized the great need for assistance in the storm-ravaged area.
"We asked our classmates to post updates, and a lot of them posted about what happened to them and their homes," Beard said. "Right away, we saw a need for direct assistance."
And www.SlidellHigh.org was born.
"At first, we were looking for Slidell families we could help with cash donations and we organized a delivery of hurricane relief supplies," Beard said.
But the effort quickly grew. And then it exploded.
Beard's sister, who attended Slidell High School but moved before graduation, garnered $14,000 worth of donations from various corporations in Illinois, where she now lives. Class of '84 graduate Patrick Mahoney of New York sponsored a golf tournament and managed to raise $40,000 in one day. In addition, individual contributions from class members around the country came pouring in, as well as contributions from non-classmates and groups and towns all over the country. Beard, along with class members Ronny Kastner and Mark Huesmann raised money for the effort by starting a program removing downed trees for donations.
With more money than they had anticipated flowing into their non-profit organization, the SHS Class of '84 put together a board of five directors to oversee the dispersing of funds raised. Together with their classmates, the board identified where the money would best serve the Slidell community and the affected members of the Class of '84.
So far, the SHS Class of 1984 has delivered a 48-foot tractor trailer filled with food, water, clothing, baby needs and cleaning products to First Baptist Church in Slidell. The group has also benefited 10 of their class members who have sustained overwhelming property damage or are faced with financial uncertainty due to the storm. As more funds are available, more families will receive direct assistance, Beard said.
The Class of '84 is also working with the St. Tammany Association of Retarded Citizens to identify the group's needs and assist with a contribution. Also, the class is looking to benefit one or more Slidell High School teachers who experienced losses during Hurricane Katrina.
"What more fitting way to thank (our teachers) for the contribution they made to us over 21 years ago?" said Beard.
Finally, the class is looking to establish scholarship funds for Slidell students.
"It's amazing to think of the generosity of people that are so far away," said Campbell. "Sometimes out here in Slidell, we're kind of left behind. Mandeville's fine, Covington's fine, and it's not that people forget, but there are so many other people in such dire need. So the fact that people were still just so generous to their own classmates - it's really touching."

Click below to select an article.
December 7, 2005	SHS CLASS OF 1984 HELPING REBUILD EACH OTHER'S LIVES by Betsy Swenson, St. Tammany News
January 1, 2006	N.Y. GOLFERS RAISE SOME GREEN FOR STORM AID by Andrew Canulette, The Times Picayune
March 9, 2006	RAFFLES TO HELP FAMILIES IN NEED by Beth Martin, The Times-Picayune, St. Tammany Bureau