Saints News Network

Saints and Pelicans owner creates "Gayle Benson Community Assistance Fund"

“The COVID-19 pandemic has had, and will continue to have, an enormous impact on our community and businesses of all sizes. We want to do our part to assist those that have been impacted in our community." - Gayle Benson
Brendan Boylan|
Saints and Pelicans owner creates "Gayle Benson Community Assistance Fund"
Saints and Pelicans owner creates "Gayle Benson Community Assistance Fund"

William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar gives the world one of the most quoted warning signs in literature... "Beware the Ides of March". 

The Ides (middle) of March across the United States in 2020 has been filled with fear and brought the sports world to a screeching halt as we know it.  Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Saints and Pelicans owner Gayle Benson has personally donated $1 million dollars to create the Gayle Benson Community Assistance Fund. 

“We have been meeting and planning a response since the NBA’s announcement to suspend games. Our meaningful discussions have led to what we believe is the most impactful way to best serve the needs of our community as a whole." said Benson.  The fund includes a partnership with Greater New Orleans Foundation, allowing the GNOF to administer the Benson Fund. 

“We were contacted by Mrs. Benson and her executive team to create this fund that will target those most affected by the closure of businesses and events in our city,Mrs. Benson, with her organizations, has always been someone that this community looks to for leadership. Today is no different. We were so honored when she reached out to us to make a $1 million contribution to start the Gayle Benson Community Assistance Fund.”

Within the partnership between the Fund and GNOF, $100,000 of the $1 Million dollars donated by Gayle Benson will go towards the the New Orleans Business Alliance’s newly established relief fund to aid "gig economy" workers in New Orleans. 

The Pelicans have also joined other NBA owners and teams by creating a fund to pay employees affected by the suspension/postponement of NBA games this season. The Arena Assistance Fund states "that all wages for Pelicans employees who work game days only will be guaranteed for the remaining postponed games". 

For those wanting to donate or find out more about the cause and the partnership between the GNOF and Gayle Benson visit https://www.gnof.org/benson or e-mail Allie Betts at allie@gnof.org 

Follow Saints News Network's Writer, Brendan Boylan, on Twitter at @btboylan.

Continue to follow all your Saints coverage through Saints News Network at @SaintsNews on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Published
Brendan Boylan
BRENDAN BOYLAN

Brendan Boylan is a Sports Commentator, Writer, Fantasy Football Analyst, and Award-Winning Filmmaker. During his sports media career, Boylan has covered the NFL, NBA, and NCAA. He currently serves as a Contributing Writer and Fantasy Football analyst for Saints News Network and a Play-by-Play Commentator on the ESPN family of networks.  He can be followed on Twitter and Instagram @btboylan.

Share on XFollow btboylan
Home/News