Create a Living Legacy: Where to Begin

A good first step is figuring out what you have or would like to donate. Most will think immediately of money since it is, after all, a more traditional means of giving, but there are also many other sound options from which to choose. You might donate a person’s books to an assisted living facility or donate their clothing to a local shelter. You can also donate a loved one’s car to an organization that helps less fortunate people get their lives back on track. Of course a financial donation such as an In Memory Gift will always be welcome at any charitable organization and can be bolstered by requests for friends and family to make a donation in lieu of sending flowers to a funeral.

In the event of a sudden or untimely death that affects many people, a campaign or project in honor of the deceased can do wonders for everyone involved. A grieving mother in California invited her son’s friends to help her build a memorial garden out of a run-down park in the area to honor the memory of her lost son who played there as a child. The project helped them give meaning to their grief while channeling their energy into creating something beautiful for their neighborhood. Everyone who participated agreed that the project helped them feel empowered to make his death stand for something good while having a positive outlet for their sadness.

Donating your time is also a viable choice and one that is often overlooked. In the case of those who are retired and have lost a spouse, the challenge of filling what feels like an enormous hole in their lives can be quite daunting. The need for interpersonal contact is greatly intensified by the loss of a long-time companion and the abrupt, all-encompassing change in lifestyle can be quite overwhelming. If material things are not an issue, donating one’s time can serve as a life raft that helps the volunteer as much as it helps the receiver. In the case of the grieving mother in California, she enlisted the help of anyone who mourned her son’s death to donate their time and pour their grief into a project that improved their neighborhood.

An In Memory Gift doesn’t have to be money and no matter what you donate, the feeling of having turned your grief into something worthwhile is as good a way as any to honor someone’s memory and help yourself heal at the same time.

Making an In Memory Gift in Greater New Orleans

Making an In Memory Gift, whether it is financial or otherwise, is easier than you might realize. With an impeccable reputation and history of giving, Volunteers of America will help you establish your In Memory Gift or In Honor Gift and be there to guide you every step of the way. Since the 1890s, Greater New Orleans Volunteers of America has been providing charitable services to Louisiana in 16 parishes. After Hurricane Katrina, Volunteers of America placed over 20,000 volunteers in and around the affected areas to help rebuild our great city. Call (504) 482-2130 for more information or visit www.voagno.org and select the “Give A Gift” tab to get started, or just read some of their success stories. Gifts can be made online, by phone, fax or mail, and donations can be anything from stocks or mutual funds to a car to volunteer hours. Start your living legacy today!

How to Make a Charitable Gift in New Orleans

First you should decide what you can afford to give. Many people donate money if they don’t have time to volunteer, but did you know that there are other planned giving options? Depending on the organization’s mission, a charity might accept anything from canned food to cars. For instance, the Greater New Orleans Volunteers of America, which services thousands of people in need across 16 parishes every day, accepts a variety of charitable gifts. The VOA website lists dozens of ways for people to help, including donating vehicles, giving stocks or mutual funds, making a bequest in a will, giving gifts in honor of a loved one, and donating life insurance policies, among other options.

If you want to give in a different way, why not consider helping out a local food bank or homeless shelter? Both options accept gifts of money and food to help disadvantaged members of the community, and have space for volunteers every day of the year, allowing you the advantage of helping out during holidays or on vacation time. The Second Harvest Food Bank is a wonderful local charity that fights hunger through food distribution. The organization serves roughly 263,000 people throughout Louisiana, and accepts food donations in New Orleans and Lafayette as well as during regularly scheduled food drives organized by volunteer organizations. To find out how to host a food drive to benefit Second Harvest, visit their website.

For animal lovers, creating a little slice of heaven can be as easy as donating pet treats, toys and supplies to your local shelter or animal hospital. For the social media savvy, there are always opportunities to take part in the animal care community by sharing Facebook posts and tweets about missing animals, animals in search of foster homes, and dogs and cats on the upcoming euthanasia list. Those who want to devote more time and energy can also volunteer to become foster parents to dogs, cats, rodents and reptiles in need of a temporary home. Animal Rescue New Orleans is always looking for qualified foster homes for rescued animals, and the ARNO website also provides tips for helping out the New Orleans animal community in other ways.

Looking for a more fast-paced option? There’s always the opportunity to run or walk for charity. If you’re already an active person, take part in a charity race. One great example is the popular Red Dress Run, a 5-mile fun run that raises funds for charities like the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Participants in the race, sponsored by New Orleans Hash House Harriers, wear red dresses and gather for celebratory beers after the run. Talk about having fun while helping the community!

Discover Giving Options with Volunteers of America

If you’re interested in donating time or money to help children, families, the elderly, the disabled, and veterans in need throughout the Gulf Coast region, contact the Greater New Orleans Volunteers of America today. Visit their website at Volunteers of America New Orleans, or contact a representative at (504) 482-2130 to learn more.

One Man’s Trash is Another Man’s Treasure

Remember that even though you have been driving your car around for years and are ready to get rid of it, it’s still a valuable asset. Whether your vehicle is just out of style or is up on blocks and only good for parts, it’s still good for something. This means you should:

1. Find Out Its Value. You’re entitled to a tax deduction equal to the car’s value. Check Kelly Blue Book (KBB.com) to find out how much your vehicle is worth. Keep in mind that if the car is not in drivable condition and it’s also not worth much, some charities might not be willing to pay for a tow company to pick it up. Cases like this are rare, and a representative of your charity organization will be able to offer a solution if this happens to you.
2. Fill Out Paperwork. For many people, donating a car, truck, motorcycle, or boat is one of the largest donations they will ever give. Don’t miss the opportunity to get credit for this on your taxes. Most charities will be able to provide the correct paperwork, and will help you fill it out correctly.
3. Clean it Up. Don’t bother taking the vehicle to get detailed (unless you want to be extra nice), but do clean out the glove compartment and trunk, make sure there’s nothing under the seats, and throw away any trash or old cigarette butts.
4. Make it Accessible. Make sure the car is easy to get to. Take it out of the garage, or at least make sure it’s easy to move. Clear off any objects that are around, under or on it that could prevent the organization from easily taking the car away.
5. Plan Ahead. Many charity groups will come and pick your car up for you at no cost. Most charities don’t need you to be present, but if you must, arrange a pick up time that fits your schedule. Remember that the charity workers have a schedule to keep, too.
6.  Hand Over Keys and Title. Since donating a vehicle to charity includes ceding ownership, you’ll need to have the car’s title documents. Make sure to hand over any keys you have for the vehicle, including separate keys for the trunk or gas tank. If you will not be present when the car is taken, leave the keys, title and owner’s manual under the dashboard.
7. Remove License Plates. Depending on your state of residency, you may need to remove your license plates. Check with the charity to see if your plates should remain with you, or on the car.

Want to Donate a Car in Louisiana?

The Greater New Orleans Volunteers of America makes it easy for people in the Gulf Coast region to donate vehicles for a great cause. If you’re interested in using your car to make a difference, donate your vehicle to the VOA. For more information on how your donation helps children, the elderly, and the disabled, visit www.voagno.org or speak to a representative at (504) 525-2179.

Some organizations available to donate your car to are actually turning around and selling the vehicle for profit and donating a portion of the money to charity. To be sure your donated vehicle is going to someone in need, there are some things you can do.

5 Things to Do First Before Donating Your Car to Charity

1. You should check the Charity Navigator or Better Business Bureau web site to make sure you select a legitimate charity. Make sure your charity meets the Standards for Charity Accountability. These standards were developed to encourage fair and honest solicitation practices, to promote ethical conduct and advance support of philanthropy.
2. You should consider choosing a local charity, one you are somewhat familiar with or have donated to previously. Choosing a local charity will make it easier for everyone involved.
3. Talk to someone you know who has donated a vehicle and ask about their experience.
4. Before you choose an organization to donate your vehicle, you should first figure out the Fair Market Value of your vehicle for tax deduction purposes. You can search Publication 78 on the IRS website to find out the specific guidelines for calculating the Fair Market Value of your vehicle. You must also take into account any accessories, the car’s mileage and the physical condition of the vehicle. Tax Law Regulations change every few years and so do deduction specifications. It is important to check with the IRS for any changes in tax laws regarding donation deductions.
5. When donating your vehicle you should be certain to choose an eligible organization or your donation may not be tax deductible. Many taxpayers can’t take a deduction for their donated vehicle because they don’t itemize their deductions and choose to take the standard deduction instead. You should be given an IRS form 501c(3) to file with your taxes. There are also record keeping requirements that vary depending on the amount of deduction.

Although it may require a little homework on your part preparing to donate your used vehicle, there is another benefit besides tax deductions. For most people, knowing that you are helping someone in need makes you feel better about yourself and brings a sense of peace and happiness.

Donate your Vehicle to Volunteers of America

If you would like a recommendation for a charity organization that meets all of these requirement listed in this article than we highly recommend Volunteers of America New Orleans. Volunteers of America New Orleans services the Greater New Orleans area who can use all the help they can get post Katrina. If you have an old or new car that you would like to donate for a good cause then click this link here to Donate Your Vehicle to Volunteers of America New Orleans.

The citizens of New Orleans have worked very hard to recover from such a disaster that almost ended the city that we all know and love. A big impact on the recovery was the football team the New Orleans Saints. In 2009, this past season, they won the first Superbowl for the city since their beginning. You can say that if you live in New Orleans you are a Saints fan. This team and its fans took advantage of the championship season to not only lift the spirits of New Orleans but to prove to the country that New Orleans is back in business.

New Orleans has taken another major blow with the recent oil spill. The financial  impact on the city has been very similar to that of hurricane Katrina. If you would like to help New Orleans survive another major hit please visit the city and enjoy all of the new and exciting gifts the “Big Easy” has to offer. Book a room at the oldest family run hotel in the French Quarter, the Hotel Monteleone and tour the deep history of New Orleans. You could also book a room at the Hotel Monteleone and watch a Saints game and then celebrate the victory at the Carousel Bar. We promise, once you visit, you will not want to leave. Give a gift to New Orleans, visit us soon!

Visit the Hotel Monteleone for what is going on for the 5 Year Hurricane Katrina Anniversary.

Michel Doradou Bringier, one of Emmanuel Bringier’s sons, married Louise Elizabeth Aglae duBourg de Sainte-Colombe in 1812. She was fourteen years old  when she married, was born in Jamaica, and was educated in Baltimore by nuns. She was also the niece of the Bishop of New Orleans, Louis William Valentin duBourg.

The War of 1812 took Michel Doradou away from the plantation. He nobly served with General Andrew Jackson and returned in 1815, at about the time construction was being completed on his manor house. He named it The Hermitage after General Jackson’s Tennessee home, to honor his much-admired commander. To his French Louisiana relatives and neighbors, the home, of course,  immediately became “l’Hermitage.”

Elizabeth outlived Doradou by thirty years; he died in 1847. She had grown from a child bride to a self- confident plantation mistress, managing the business successfully through the Civil War times. The house was fired upon by Federal troops but survived intact, being hit by only one cannonball.

After the war, Louis Bringier, one of Michel and Elizabeth’s sons who had served as a Confederate army colonel, took over the plantation’s operation. Against all odds and with the help of Some of the former slaves who now worked as free persons, he successfully produced profitable sugarcane.

Eventually Duncan Kenner of Ashland, who had married into the Bringier family acquired the property. In the 1880′s it was acquired by the Maginnis family, then by the Duplessis family, then by the LaSalle family, and in 1959 by Dr. and Mrs. Robert C. Judice of New Orleans. The Judices have completed a faithful and beautiful restoration.

Designed with splendid simplicity The Hermitage is built of thick “brick-between-post” construction and  smoothed over with plaster. Massive Doric columns and wide galleries sweep around the house. Two dormer windows are perched on a typical hipped roof. The interior is beautifully furnished with decor and furniture in the pre-Civil War style.

Evidence suggest that the house had been remodeled in 1849, probably by the noted New Orleans architect James Gallier Sr. The encircling galleries originally had brick pillows below and wooden colonettes above, typical of the time of its construction. They were replaced by the well-proportioned pillars as seen today.

The Hermitage is open by appointment for group tours. For more information on The Hermitage Plantation visit the Hotel Monteleone.

Greenwood, the largest plantation house in the Felicianas, is a restructure. William Ruffin Barrow built the original in 1830 on the 12,000-acre sugar and cotton plantation he purchased from Oliver Pollack, who had acquired the land by grant from the Spanish government. The Barrow family, originally from England, had emigrated first to the Carolinas before settling in the Feliciana country. They prospered in Louisiana, probably building more large plantation homes than any other single family.

Greenwood, with the exception of the twenty-eight brick columns, was built of lath and plaster. The Doric columns, thirty feet tall, rise from an elevated porch to hold a large roof entablature unusually decorated with triglyphs and other designs. Within the four corner columns, roof drains feed below-ground brick cisterns. A belvedere straddles the roof. Originally about forty outbuildings and 100 slave cabins were on the grounds.

Judah P. Benjamin, the noted Confederate statesman and a close friend of Barrow, advised his friend to sell the property because of the approaching Civil War. At a great loss Barrow sold the plantation intact to the Reed family. Federal troops did overrun Greenwood, destroying most of the outbuildings, but sparing the main house for use as a hospital. The Reed family retained the property, living there and maintaining the home until 1906. Greenwood was then sold to Mr. and Mrs. Frank S. Percy, who restored it and eventually opened it to the public.

In 1960 tragedy struck: A huge fire destroyed the house, leaving only the twenty-eight columns standing. Greenwood remained a ruin until 1968 when the charred remains and 300 acres were purchased by Baton Rouge attomey Walton J. Barnes and his son Richard.

The two men then began a most ambitious project: a reconstruction of the house as it originally was. Since no plans existed, the Barneses duplicated the structure by researching hundreds of old photographs and by interviewing those who had visited and lived at Greenwood.

Greenwood once again lives! Its twenty-eight majestic white columns are reflected in the original pool, dug to provide the clay for the columns’ bricks. The interior once again boasts an impressive central hall that is seventy feet long, with a curved wooden stairway at one end. Its furnishings reflect the style of the 1830s. Silver doorknobs and other hardware, ruined in the fire, have been remade.

The house has been used as a locale for several movies. The most notable to date is “North and South,” a televisian miniseries about, a family during the Civil War.

Greenwood is open to the public daily for tours. For more information on the Greenwood Plantation view the Hotel Monteleone listing.

The plantation first raised indigo, corn, and rice. But Soon they converted to growing sugarcane, a much more lucrative crop after Etienne deBore discovered an inexpensive method of granulating sugar in 1795. During Destrehan’s lifetime the plantation grew extensively.

Like many planters along the Mississippi, Destrehan was as interested in having a large family as he was in producing sugar. The solid brick garconnieres, somewhat attached on both sides of the main house, were additions to accommodate the increasing family. These two new units, though slightly asymmetrical in size, conformed so well with the original West Indies-style architecture, they seemed part of the structure.

In 1823 Stephen Henderson, a wealthy Scotsman, took Destrehan Plantation over. He married Lelia Destrehan; her death preceded her husband’s though she was only half his age. Henderson died in 1838, leaving a most complicated will. Because the will was contested by his surviving relatives, most of its provisions were set aside by the Louisiana Supreme Court. Henderson had directed that upon his death his slaves be emancipated, given an acre of land, a mule and a cow, or, if they chose, given passage to Liberia. The litigation over this and other then controversial philanthropic provisions in the will continued for years, and most of the estate went for legal fees.

In 1839 Judge Pierre A. Rost, another son-in-law of Jean Destrehan, acquired Destrehan Manor. Rost began an extensive renovation, altering the house’s West Indies appearance to conform with the then-popular Greek Revival style. Great white pillars were formed by covering the earlier wooden colonettes with brick and plaster. The original bousillage entre poteaux (Spanish moss and sand between posts) walls were lathed over, plastered, and scored to resemble granite stones.

One of Destrehan’s outstanding architectural features is its high-peaked West Indies-style roof. Three smallish dormer windows and two asymmetrical chimneys jut out from the roof. The original heart-of-cypress, handhewn beams are visible throughout the house. Also in the house is a large marble bathtub said to have been a gift from Emperor Napoleon I to Jean Noel Destrehan.

Many noted guests were entertained at the manor house during the years the Destrehans and their descendants occupied the property. Two of the most famous were the Duc d’Orleans, who became king of France, and the renowned pirate-hero Jean Lafitte, whose ghost appears during stormy nights pointing to where he hid some of his treasure.

Union forces seized the house during the Civil War and turned the property into a Freedman’s Bureau colony, housing hundreds of newly freed slaves. The property was returned to the Rost family through presidential intercession in 1866, and remained in the family until 1910.

Since 1914, Destrehan has been the property of various oil refining companies that still utilize some of the acreage. In 1972 the manor house, devastated by neglect, vandalism, and the elements, was donated to the River Road Historical Society. This dedicated, nonprofit group began an immediate restoration of the manor house and several acres of picturesque grounds. Today, Destrehan Manor House is open daily to the public. All proceeds from admissions, annual festivals, and profits from the charming antique and gift shop are dedicated to Destrehan’s continuing restoration.

For more information on the Destrehan Plantation read more at the Hotel Monteleone.

Stories mention the friendship that Hippolyte had a with the brothers Jean and Pierre Lafitte, who used Chretien Point to conceal and move some of their smuggled cargo – and slaves. These tales are credible because Chretien accumulated hundreds of slaves to work his ever increasing cotton-producing acreage in a seemingly short time.

In 1812 during the Battle of New Orleans, Hippolyte Chretien and some of his neighboring planters joined the pirates Lafitte and General Andrew Jackson in this fight, which defeated the British. One of the gentlemen that fought with Chretien was a man known only as Senor Neda. Neda’s daughter Felicite married Hippolyte Chretien II and became one of Louisiana’s first “liberated” , women. Behaving very unconventionally for her time, Felicite was active in the management of plantation business, smoked cigarettes, and even was adept at card gambling. Felicite increased the plantation holdings by whatever methods she could. She acquired much property because of her proficiency at cards as well as her dealings with New Orleans bankers and businessmen, almost unheard-of activities for a woman at that time. Her courage and self-sufficiency were more than helpful because her husband and one of her two sons died from yellow fever shortly after the house was completed. She unearthed his money, which was buried on the grounds, after convincing Hippolyte’s faithful servant, Pajo, to reveal its hidden location.

This remarkable lady also possessed physical courage: It seems she herself thwarted a robbery attempt by shooting a thief in the head and frightening off his accomplices by confronting them with the possibility of a similar fate.

During the Civil War, a battle fought on the plantation grounds was led by Federal general Nathaniel Banks and Confederate general Alfred Mouton. Hippolyte Chretien III, though sick and feeble, saved the house by giving a secret Masonic sign that was honored by General Banks, a fellow Mason. Though the house was spared, the rest of the plantation buildings were destroyed by Yankee forces.

Hippolyte III inherited the plantation and lived at Chretien Point with his wife, Celestine Cantrell, and their son Jules. Jules was a multitalented young man, and unfortunately the family was more interested in the creation and appreciation of the arts and not in the practical science of management. After several crop failures the family attempted rice production, which also failed. The property was eventually lost to the mortgage holders. Jules became a traveling salesman of kitchen utensils.

The house was restored to its original magnificence in the late 1970s. The six-brick Tuscan pillars at front are based on square foundations that anchor the wide, wooden, balustrades gallery; the pillars rise two stories to the eaves of the hipped roof. Round-headed French doors and windows are features in each room. Chretien
Point’s great room is graced with unique mantles of verde-antique Italian marble with Ionic capitals and shelves of black onyx. Ceiling medallions are elaborately a carved. Exterior walls are eighteen inches thick and the house measures sixty-three feet wide by forty-seven feet deep.

Sadly, the original furnishings were destroyed by fire after they were moved to a small hotel, which was operated by one of the Chretien heirs. The present owners, the Cornay family, have again beautifully furnished the house and graciously opened it to plantation tours.

For more information on tours visit the Hotel Monteleone’s attraction listing of the Chretien Point Plantation.

The house was elegantly furnished, but the true beauty of this estate was its grounds. A parklike atmosphere was created using exotic plants, flowers, and fruit trees that were developed and nurtured in a large hot house. The extensive garden included a pool, a deer park, shady sitting areas, peacocks, pigeons, and other exotic animals.

Invasion by Union troops during the Civil War destroyed the original house and its grounds. Almost everything edible was foraged by the hungry army. Fort died during this time, but his widow, Sally, held on to the property; she determinedly rebuilt the house almost immediately after it burned. Fortunately much of the furnishings were saved and are still in use today. Other fine pieces were acquired from Rosedown Plantation when it sold in 1956. Sally Bowman Fort was the daughter of Sarah Turnbull of neighboring Rosedown, and James Pirrie Bowman, of nearby Oakley.

Two notable features of this estate are the unusual elliptical alley of moss-draped oaks, a beautiful corridor to the house, and the steadfast ownership (the property remained in the same family since first built). I visited Catalpa in 1985. It was then occupied by Mamie Fort Thompson and Sadie Fort, both great-granddaughters of William J. Fort.

The thirty-acre gardens have been returned to their parklike beauty, with plantings of hydrangeas, azaleas, camellias, and a large variety of trees and plants natural to the area. Though this restructure is not strictly antebellum, Catalpa is one of the most charming of the Louisiana planters’ homes open to visitors. It is about three miles out of St. Francisville and is open daily for tours.

For more information read the attraction listing at the Hotel Monteleone on the Catalpa Plantation.