There’s nothing as satisfying as seeing a project accomplished on-time and within budget, except for meeting the children who benefit directly from that project!
Members of the Operation Kids team got to do just that this week when they attended the riobbon-cutting at the newly renovated Royal Castle Child Development Center in New Orleans.
This important childcare facility was severely damaged by Hurricane Katrina, and needed new siding, windows, doors, interior work and structural repairs.
With a $75,000 lead gift from Operation Kids, those repairs have been made and the center is fully open for business. The official ribbon-cutting took place on Monday, December 17, as many of the center’s children, along with their parents and center caregivers, joined Saints quarterback (and Operation Kids partner) Drew Brees and his wife, Brittany, for the event.
Drew & Brittany also toured the center. Up to 100 children, from newborns to 6-year-olds, are enrolled at the Royal Castle center. They are so precious. And it is so important that they get the best care possible.
That is why we found it imperative to not only support the renovation, but also its upgrade to a nationally accredited program. It will be the first of its kind in New Orleans. Royal Castle is an excellent example of a collaborative project gone well in a city where many things don’t go well.
It is an example of the kind of effectiveness and accountability people must demand from charitable organizations.
Following Drew’s challenge that we “expect more” from oursleves and those around us, we all expected more with Royal Castle and they got it.
A special thank you to everyone who supported this rebuilding effort.
