Finalists Named In GNOF's Pitch It! The Innovation Challenge
NEW ORLEANS – The Greater New Orleans Foundation announce that Lighthouse Louisiana, New Orleans Food & Farm Network and the YMCA will present their innovative ideas in a public pitch to a panel of judges on Friday, October 7, 2016, New Orleans Museum of Art, at 8:30 a.m.
Pitch It! The Innovation Challenge will fund a novel approach, an innovative product, a new process, or an innovative service that supports a new way of doing business in the nonprofit sector. Top prize is $25,000 with second and third place winners receiving $7,500 and $5,000.
“In an environment of uncertain economic times and shrinking public coffers, we’re turning more and more to nonprofit organizations to tackle our toughest social problems,” said Joann Ricci, vice president of organizational effectiveness at the Greater New Orleans Foundation. “As demand grows for their services and programs, nonprofits must continuously seek novel solutions to meet community needs.”
Now in its 4th year, the Pitch It! The Innovation Challenge is supported by the Kresge Foundation.
Previous Pitch It! winners are Café Reconcile, Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans & Acadiana, and UNITY of Greater New Orleans.
The winner will be selected by the following panel of judges:
• Leah Brown, Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs for Chevron's Gulf of Mexico Business Unit
• Fred G. Karnas, Senior Fellow, Human Services and Health Program at the Kresge Foundation
• Quentin Messer Jr., President and CEO of the New Orleans Business Alliance
• Yvette Ruiz, Vice President, Office on Nonprofit Engagement, JPMorgan Chase
The Greater New Orleans Foundation is one of the oldest and largest philanthropic organizations in the region. Its mission is to create a thriving community for all. Every day, GNOF joins other foundations, nonprofit organizations, community leaders and government officials to address the needs of the community and build consensus for solutions, GNOF reps said. Together with a family of donors, the Foundation has invested over $100 million in the region since it opened its doors over 30 years ago to respond to community needs.
