Month: February 2013

4th Annual Mardi Gras Fundraiser
FAT Tuesday, February 12, 2013 11:30am- close
Teen Leaders from across the North Shore YMCA Service area will make their 4th trip to New Orleans, Louisiana to assist in rebuilding efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina disaster.  Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans on August 29, 2005. and though many years have passed since Katrina destroyed most of New Orleans and its neighboring communities, there’s still work to be done to bring this area back to “normal”.
 
“The devastation is vast, even years later”, explains Rick Doucette, Executive Director of Teen and Camp Services at the Cape Ann YMCA.  “This is a tremendous opportunity for local teens to help make a profound and lasting difference in the lives of people who so desperately need a helping hand.”   Travel, lodging and meal expenses are estimated at $1,100 per youth.  Our hope is to fully fund each teen’s trip through a collaborative effort with local donors and businesses doing events over the next couple months.  The Latitude 43 event is in its 4th year, and, like the trip itself, and has become a high point of our year; kicking off our fundraising efforts in preparation for the trip.”
 
“The event has been a big success for the teens raising travel money in past years. And it’s become a very important part of our connection to the community”, said Zak Sears, General Manager of Latitude 43 and Minglewood Tavern.  “Even our music this year is locally based and totally donated. The guys from The Runaround are my friends and a few are my cousins.  So when I asked them to help out, they agreed without hesitation.  This is Gloucester”.
 
The teen participants are involved in the preparations as much as they are the actual mission.  Dressed in Mardi Gras costumes, handing out beads and selling raffle tickets the night of is only part of their commitment to the success of their trip. Teens are credited for all of the in-kind (raffle item) donations they secure for the event.
 
“We believe this should be a team effort, and that the kids learn as much from having to work for their trip as they do in actually going to New Orleans,” Doucette explains.  “And by soliciting their own raffle items, they are reaching out within their own circles to build awareness for the trip and for the importance of our work in Louisiana.  These teens really get so much throughout the process to the end of the journey; their feedback in our Trip Reflections always show amazing insight and gratitude.”
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Event Details
Special supplemental "Cajun" Menu available throughout both Latitude 43 and Minglewood for both lunch and dinner.
Live Entertainment in Minglewood Tavern from 7:30-10:30PM provided by:
The Runaround – Local Ska sensations
Reservations for dinner in the Latitude 43 Dining Room strongly recommended. Lunch reservations in Lat43 also available. Minglewood Tavern is first-come, first-serve.
Latitude 43 Restaurant & Bar
25 Rogers Street Gloucester, Massachusetts 01930 Phone: 978-281-0223
http://www.latfortythree.com
http://www.minglewoodtavern.com

There will also be Raffles for Goods and Services, a 50/50 Raffle and other events planned throughout the evening.

Want to help MORE? This year, a second Mardi Gras Themed event has been added to raise more funds as the participant list has grown with the inclusion of the other North Shore Y Teen Groups – a concert at the historic Larcom Theater in Beverly featuring Henri Smith and Charles Neville on February 8th , with  50% of ticket sales donated to the trip.

Charles Neville is a Grammy winner and Henri Smith is both an incredible entertainer and a New Orleans native. The theater is a piece of history and the night will be one to remember. Tickets available through http://www.gimmesound.com

As they say in New Orleans, "Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler". Let the good times roll……