St. Bernard Project

United Way for the Greater New Orleans Area creates lasting changes in the community by focusing on the building blocks for a better life, supporting non-profits that address four broad impact categories: education, income, health, and safety net. United Way’s initial support to provide the building materials for the first 20 homes in 2006 was paramount to SBP’s ability to launch our program. Through grants and special initiatives, United Way has continued to invest generously in our programs and has connected SBP with dozens of corporate partners and thousands of volunteers. SBP is proud to LIVE UNITED.

The Women’s Leadership Council of United Way for the Greater New Orleans area partnered with SBP to create our annual Women’s Build. WLC, whose is goal is expanding women’s ability to be a strong voice within the non-profit arena by maximizing the number of women pooling their time, talent and financial resources toward specific goals, has helped Women’s Build bring strong local women to volunteer and has provided generous financial sponsorships for the event.

Entergy Corporation, an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations, has been instrumental in SBP’s growth and expansion into New Orleans. Through grants and employee donations Entergy has contributed more than $2 million to SBP. In 2009, a grant of more than $516,000 allowed SBP to begin working in New Orleans. Hundreds of Entergy employees have volunteered with SBP and Entergy is currently helping SBP integrate green and energy-efficient building practices into our new build and rebuild projects.

The Patrón Spirits Company, founded in 1989 by Paul Mitchell Systems co-founder John Paul DeJoria and entrepreneur Martin Crowley, is one of the fastest growing global spirit companies, bringing consumers high-quality, “ultra-premium” brand tequilas. The Patrón Spirits Company also includes Pyrat Rum and Ultimat Vodka brands. Patron Co-Founder DeJoria’s motto has always been “Success not shared is failure.” Since 2008, Patrón has shared its success with St. Bernard Project in many ways: The company has made generous financial contributions and in-kind donations of product for special events. Most notably, Patrón hosted a series of fundraisers across the country aboard its Patron Tequila Express, a restored 1926 rail car, to raise funds for SBP’s Center for Wellness and Mental Health to respond to the increased need for services following the Gulf Oil Spill in 2010.

American Standard Brands is a leading North American manufacturer of bath and kitchen products in both residential and commercial markets and for new construction and replacement/remodeling. The company, known for its state-of-the-art, yet easy-to-install products, participates in all key product categories including bathroom and kitchen faucets, fixtures and furniture, toilets and bathroom fixtures. American Standard is providing their top-rated WaterSense®-certified toilets, faucets, and showerheads, as well as accessories, for each of the 120 homes SBP will build or rebuild in 2011. The WaterSense certification is granted to toilets, faucets and showerheads that meet rigorous criteria set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for high performance and water efficiency and assures consumers that a product delivers dependable performance while reducing water use by 20 percent or more. This donation, valued at more than $500,000, saves SBP significant funds on each home we build, allowing us to leverage our other funding sources and save our clients money on their water bills.

Stanley Black & Decker, a diversified global provider of hand tools, power tools and related accessories, mechanical access solutions and electronic security solutions, and engineered fastening systems, is SBP’s exclusive tool partner. Known for its hardworking, innovative and powerful tools that help professionals around the world build, repair and protect the world’s most valuable things, the company’s DeWALT hand tools and Stanley hand tools divisions have generously donated more than $150,000 worth of tools to SBP. The sheer volume of tools donated increased SBP’s efficiency exponentially and the quality, reliability and efficiency of the tools have helped make our volunteers and staff even more effective.

Founded by pharmacist, Caleb Bradham in 1898, Pepsi has now grown into one of the world’s leading consumer products organizations. Brand Pepsi is part of a portfolio of beverage brands that includes carbonated soft drinks, juices and juice drinks, ready-to-drink teas and coffee drinks, isotonic sports drinks, bottled water and enhanced waters. PepsiCo’s mission is to become the premier consumer products company, but as such an expansive company they take on the responsibility to continually improve aspects of the world in which they operate – environment, social, economic – creating a better tomorrow than today. Through Pepsi’s cutting edge philanthropy idea, known as “Pepsi Refresh Project,” St. Bernard Project competed in a special round of the contest called Refresh the Gulf, which was launched in the wake of the Gulf Oil Spill in the summer of 2010. SBP received the most votes in the top category and Pepsi awarded SBP with a $250,000 grant to expand our Center for Wellness and Mental Health and rebuild more houses in the New Orleans area. Most notably, the Pepsi funding has allowed SBP to launch a peer counseling program to better meet the needs of the fishing community and other hard-to-reach populations.

Cisco, leading supplier of networking equipment and network management for the Internet, prides itself on making the world a smaller place through technology and using it to enhance life experiences. Their social responsibility programs are designed to provide long-term benefits to Cisco employees, customers, shareholders, partners, and individuals in communities around the world. After volunteering with SBP in the fall of 2010, Cisco committed to making SBP their chosen nonprofit partner for 2011. Their extensive contributions include providing a generous technology donation to upgrade SBP phone and internet systems, sponsoring events to benefit SBP, sending employees to volunteer and matching these volunteer hours with further donations.

Zurich is one of the world’s largest insurance groups, and one of the few to operate on a truly global basis. The company’s mission is to help our customers understand and protect themselves from risk. It offers a wide range of general and life insurance products and services for individuals, small businesses, mid-sized and large companies and multinational corporations. Zurich engages in long-term global partnerships with select non-profit organizations to bring about innovative and sustainable solutions to pressing global challenges in areas of mutual interest. Zurich works with SBP in several capacities. They have donated funds and raised awareness about SBP through their sponsorship of the Zurich Classic Golf Tournament, hundreds of volunteers from all levels of their company have volunteered during the Zurich Classic and, most recently, they sponsored a campaign to raise funds and awareness through PGA star Ben Crane. The SBP logo was on displayed his golf bag and Zurich donated $100 every time he hit a fairway during a portion of the season.

UPS, which focuses on shipping, freight, logistics, and supply chain management and now operates in more than 220 countries, prides itself on being a company of honest, quality and integrity. A global company with one of the most recognized and admired brands in the world, they are the world’s largest package delivery company and a leading global provider of specialized transportation and logistics services. Both independently and through the United Way’s N.O. Place Like Home campaign, UPS has funded 3 homes. In addition, they’ve put their logistics solutions to work at SBP, analyzing and steam-lining our inventory tracking system and other processes, generously donating both funds to purchase new project management software and the UPS-patented tracking software for SBP’s warehouse the track tools and materials. As SBP continues to grow, UPS has been an integral partner in creating systems that provide increased accountability and efficiency.

KPMG is a global network of professional firms providing audit, tax and advisory services operating in 144 countries with 137,000 people working in member firms around the world. KPMG, which views corporate citizenship as inseparable from their business, delivers a globally consistent set of multidisciplinary services based on deep industry knowledge. Its industry focus helps KPMG professionals develop a rich understanding of clients’ businesses and the insight, skills, and resources required to address industry-specific issues and opportunities. In addition to numerous corporate volunteer trips, KPMG’s Business Performance Services practice has helped SBP transform our business model, streamline our processes, improve functional visibility, and secure government grants, which has made a significant impact on our capacity and pace in rebuilding.

The Glover Park Group (GPG) is Washington, D.C.-based independent, strategic communications firm that delivers research-driven, targeted campaigns that draw attention, shape opinions and inspire action. After a company-wide volunteer experience in December 2009, GPG provided generous sponsorship for an SBP home and have partnered with SBP to provide consulting in marketing, public relations and messaging.

Capital One, which began as credit card company that tailored credit cards to individual consumers, now offers diversified financial services that provides Credit Cards, Auto Finance, Branch Banking, Small Business, Commercial Bankings, Personal Loans. Capital One’s core corporate values – excellence and do the right thing – are highlighted in their commitment to supporting their communities. Through the United Way, Capital One is a title sponsor of our annual Women’s Build event and has provided generous support for special events and through in-kind donations such as office furniture.

Trim-Tex is the premier manufacturer and distributor of vinyl drywall beads and drywall finishing accessories. The 40-year-old family company, which specializes in “drywall art” and in solving common drywall finishing problems, generously provides St. Bernard Project with corner bead and other drywall finishing accessories. The company is owned by Joe and Deb Koenig, whose relationship with SBP began because of their daughter Lindsay’s passion for SBP and rebuilding the New Orleans area. In addition to in-kind donations, the company has committed to offering industry knowledge and support to increase the efficiency of SBP’s construction processes, training staff in using their products and recruiting professionals to join them for a skilled volunteer blitz builds.

AmeriCorps, a federal service program run by the Corporation for National and Community Service, has been a vital partner of St. Bernard Project since our inception. In 2006, the first AmeriCorps NCCC teams served with St. Bernard Project and since then, more than 800 members and counting have served with SBP through all three branches of AmeriCorps: NCCC, AmeriCorps State and AmeriCorps VISTA. Currently SBP engages 68 AmeriCorps members in service, as well as an additional two AmeriCorps NCCC teams each round. SBP is proud to operate one of the largest AmeriCorps Programs in the state with our members coming from a wide array of life experiences, including recent high school and college graduates, social workers, nuns, lawyers, and recent retirees. In March 2011, SBP launched the second Veterans Corps in the nation. SBP’s Veterans Corps engages returning servicemen and women in meaningful service to the community, while allowing them to develop new job skills to ease the transition back into civilian life.

After volunteering with SBP on Veteran’s Day in 2010, Energy Secretary Chu announced that the Department of Energy would send a team to analyze SBP’s current rebuilding practices and make recommendations to make our homes more energy-efficient with the primary of goal of passing on energy-cost savings to our clients. By partnering with HUD, DOE’s ultimate goal of this partnership is to make SBP the model for energy-efficient yet truly affordable housing in America and develop guidelines that other organizations can follow.

Through several state- and city-administered grant programs, SBP has received $4.1 in Community Development Block Grants from HUD to rebuild clients’ homes. Sec. Shaun Donovan, his team and his family have volunteered with SBP several times and with the Department of Energy, HUD is helping to make SBP the model for energy-efficient, yet truly affordable housing in America.

St. Bernard Project partners with the LSU Health Sciences Center’s Department of Psychiatry to operate our Center for Wellness and Mental Health. The Center’s clinical team offers 85 hours of free therapy and behavioral health services each week for un- and under-insured residents of all ages. LSU provides two psychiatrists, two psychology doctoral fellows and a licensed clinical social worker to staff our clinic. In addition, LSU conducts an outcome evaluation to identify success factors to sustain the program, develop a model for delivering mental health services in other communities in the wake of disasters and address research questions that add to the scientific field’s knowledge of disaster-related mental health.

In the wake of the Gulf Oil Spill last year, St. Bernard Project partnered with the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board to support fishing communities in Southeast Louisiana. The board, made up of 15 members appointed by the Governor from different sectors of the industry, was mandated to strengthen and revitalize the Louisiana seafood industry. Through events over the past year in Los Angeles, Chicago, Las Vegas, Washington, Philadelphia and New Orleans, SBP and Louisiana Seafood have brought together a diverse audience to both enjoy Louisiana seafood and hear about its benefits and raise funds for St. Bernard Project’s Center for Wellness and Mental Health programs that address post-spill mental health problems in the fishing communities. Funds raised at these events have helped finance our peer-to-peer counseling program, which better reaches residents in the community, especially fisherman, who are reluctant to access traditional mental health services.