DHL, a provider of express delivery and logistics services, is spearheading a relief initiative for the city of New Orleans and victims of Hurrican Katrina that will run in tandem with the annual Jazz & Heritage Festival, or Jazz Fest, held April 28-30 and May 5-7.
DHL’s Jazz Quest economic initiative was created to benefit local entrepreneurs by creating activities and musical events that are specifically designed to drive business to approximately 40 small- to mid-sized businesses. Corporate citizenship activities conducted during this time will include an extension of a grant program for New Orleans area microentrepreneurs, and an effort to help rebuild the city’s musical heritage through a special VIP fund-raising concert and dinner event, where local and national celebrities will celebrate and make contributions to a foundation supporting New Orleans’ musical community.
Jazz Quest directly supports 40 New Orleans’ French Quarter merchants ranging from clothing boutiques and photo galleries to restaurants and gift shops. DHL has engaged street teams to reach out to visiting music enthusiasts and locals attending Jazz Fest with information on the participating merchants to increase customer traffic in the establishments and help spur economic activity.
One of the highlights of event is a silent auction to benefit The Tipitina’s Foundation (www.tipitinasfoundation.org), a non-profit organization working to uplift the music community of New Orleans.
On April 27, DHL will deliver $25,000 worth of musical instruments to the Sophie B. Wright Charter School in New Orleans donated by DHL and the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation (www.mhopus.org), which supports music education through the donation of new and refurbished musical instruments to underserved schools, community music programs and individual students nationwide. DHL will also make a grant donation of $10,000 to 10 deserving New Orleans area artist-related microbusinesses during Jazz Quest.
A microbusiness is defined as a business with five or fewer employees requiring up to $35,000 in start-up capital. These $1,000 grants assist businesses with the start-up capital they need to get their establishments up and running and give them the foundation they need to succeed.
