NGO Funding Request


The recipient entity's full legal name:  Friends of the Fisher House of Southern Louisiana

The recipient entity's physical address:
           8015 PLUM ST
New Orleans, LA 70118


The recipient entity's mailing address (if different):
           8015 PLUM ST
New Orleans, LA 70118


Type of Entity (for instance, a nonprofit corporation):  Non-Profit Corporation

If the entity is a corporation, list the names of the incorporators:
          Brian D. Hennessy

The last four digits of the entity's taxpayer ID number:  0024

What is the dollar amount of the request?  $2,225,000

What type of request is this?  Capital Outlay Appropriation

Is this entity in good standing with the Secretary of State?  Yes

Provide the name of each member of the recipient entity's governing board and officers:
           Brian Hennessy - President (key person for this funding request)
8015 Plum Street
New Orleans, LA 70118

Jeffrey Baumgarten - Vice President
5 Dunleith Ct
New Orleans, LA 70118
United States of America

Marshall Hevron - Secretary
C/O Adams Reese, LLP
One Shell Square
701 Poydras Street, Suite 4500
New Orleans, Louisiana 70139

Louis Bartells - Treasurer
C/O Iberia Bank
601 Poydras St. Ste. 100
New Orleans, LA 70130

Roy Carubba - Member
3400 Hessmer Ave.
Metairie, LA 70002

Marjorie Kraus - Member
One River Place, unit 4B
600 Port of New Orleans Pl.
New Orleans, LA 70130

Joe M. Ricks, Jr., Ph.D. - Member
Division of Business, Xavier University
1 Drexel Drive
New Orleans, LA 70125

Ken Milvid
C/O Capstone Professional Resources
826 Union Street
Suite 200
New Orleans, LA 70112


Provide a summary of the project or program:
           The military can be very demanding both physically and emotionally on service members. Many service members leave the military broken or develop serious physical or emotional problems after separation. Our Veterans Administration Health Care System seeks to heal our veterans. However, given the centralized nature of VA Hospitals often the families of veterans undergoing treatment at VA facilities are unable to find affordable lodging close to their loved one during these treatments. The Fisher House Foundation seeks to address this burden and assist with the healing process by providing lodging, free of charge to the family members of veterans undergoing treatment at VA Hospitals. The mission of the Friends of the Fisher House of Southern Louisiana is to realize the mission of the Fisher House Foundation by helping to raise the money needed to build the first Fisher House in the state of Louisiana, on the campus of the New Orleans VA Hospital.

New Orleans is very fortunate to have a new and world class VA Hospital serving the approximately 140,000 veterans living in the Hospital’s Southern Louisiana catchment basin. Currently however there is no Fisher House at the New Orleans VA Hospital, or even in the state of Louisiana. The closest houses are located at the Houston VA Hospital (three houses) and in Mississippi at Keesler Air Force Base (two houses).

Fortunately, the New Orleans VA Hospital was approved for a Fisher House by the DOD, VA and Fisher House Foundation in 2017. The house will be sited at the entrance to the VA Hospital on S. Galvez Street. The planned Fisher House of Southern Louisiana will have 16 suites, be approximately 14,000 square feet large, and like all Fisher Houses have shared eating, cooking and communal spaces. Once open, the primary population served by the Fisher House of Southern Louisiana will be:
1) The approximately 140,000 veterans living in Southern Louisiana who are eligible for treatment at the New Orleans VA Hospital and who will be able to have their loved close by during treatment without suffering an undue financial burden.
2) The Southern Louisiana Veterans Health Care System (New Orleans VA Hospital) which will be able to offer this critical capability to the veterans it serves, and their families.

The role of the Friends of the Fisher House of Southern Louisiana is to raise the money from our region needed to match the Fisher House Foundation’s grant of $3,250,000 to build the house, and the Fisher House Foundation will manage the construction of the house. Once construction is complete the house will be gifted to the Veterans Administration to be operated, maintained and staffed.


The takeaways on this project are:
- The Fisher House Foundation has committed to funding 1/2 of the cost of the first Fisher House in Louisiana, at the New Orleans VA Hospital ($3,250,000). The Friends of the Fisher House of Southern Louisiana must match this amount.
- The Fisher House Foundation has built 76 Fisher Houses to date around the nation and in England and Germany.
- The VA would like to break ground in late 2019.
- Fisher Houses are gifted to the Veterans Administration upon completion and are owned, operated and maintained by the Veterans Administration. There is no continuing funding requirement from the state, region, city or private funds, after construction is complete.
- The site has been identified by the New Orleans VA Hospital and approved by the Fisher House Foundation and is on the campus of the VA Hospital in New Orleans (no cost).
- Fisher Houses are built from one of two VA pre-approved "basis of designs" to keep costs and delays to a minimum.
- State funds would greatly accelerate our efforts to build the first Fisher House in Louisiana and potentially allow us to pursue approval of subsequent Fisher Houses at our other two VA Hospitals.


What is the budget relative to the project for which funding is requested?:
          Salaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . $0
          Professional Services. . . $0
          Contracts . . . . . . . . . . . $0
          Acquisitions . . . . . . . . . $0
          Major Repairs . . . . . . . $0
          Operating Services. . . . $146,055
          Other Charges. . . . . . . $0

Does your organization have any outstanding audit issues or findings?  No

If 'Yes' is your organization working with the appropriate governmental agencies to resolve those issues or findings?
          Not Applicable

What is the entity's public purpose, sought to be achieved through the use of state monies?
          Our mission is to help achieve the mission of the Fisher House Foundation, in the state of Louisiana and help the healing of our veterans by allowing their families to stay, free of charge, with them during treatment at the New Orleans VA Hospital. Therefore, state funds would greatly accelerate the construction of the state's first Fisher House, on the campus of the New Orleans VA Hospital for our 280,000 veterans and their families. Ideally, these monies also become a platform to leverage and attract more private money in order to construct possibly up to three Fisher Houses at our three VA Hospitals in the state.

What are the goals and objectives for achieving such purpose?
          The military can be very demanding both physically and emotionally on service members. Many service members leave the military broken or develop serious physical or emotional problems after separation. Our Veterans Administration Health Care System seeks to heal our veterans. However, given the centralized nature of VA Hospitals often the families of veterans undergoing treatment at VA facilities are unable to find affordable lodging close to their loved one during these treatments. The Fisher House Foundation seeks to address this burden and assist with the healing process by providing lodging, free of charge to the family members of veterans undergoing treatment at VA Hospitals.

The mission of the Friends of the Fisher House of Southern Louisiana is to realize the mission of the Fisher House Foundation by helping to raise the money needed to build the first Fisher House in the state of Louisiana, on the campus of the New Orleans VA Hospital by raising the $3,250,000 needed to match the Fisher House Foundation's commitment of $3,250,000 towards this project.


What is the proposed length of time estimated by the entity to accomplish the purpose?
           Per the Fisher House Foundation: six months for planning, one year for site prep and construction

If any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official is an officer, director, trustee, or employee of the recipient entity who receives compensation or holds any ownership interest therein:
     (a) If an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of the official and the office held by such person:
                 none
    
     (b) If an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of such person; the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related; and the nature of the relationship:
                 none

     (c) The percentage of the official's or immediate family member's ownership interest in the recipient entity, if any:
                 n/a

     (d) The position, if any, held by the official or immediate family member in the recipient entity:
                  n/a

If the recipient entity has a contract with any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official or with the state or any political subdivision of the state:
(a) If the contract is with an elected or appointed state official, provide the name and address of the official and the office held by such person: 
               None

(b) If the contract is with an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official:
          Provide the name and address of such person:
               None

          Provide the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related:
                N/A

          What is the nature of the relationship?  N/A

(c) If the contract is with the state or a political subdivision of the state, provide the name and address of the state entity or political subdivision of the state:
                 None

(d) The nature of the contract, including a description of the goods or services provided or to be provided pursuant to the contract:
               N/A


Contact Information
name:  Brian Hennessy 
                                       address:  8015 PLUM ST
New Orleans, LA 70118

                                       phone:  7604586161
                                       fax: 
                                       e-mail:  bhennessy@bhaviation.com
                                       relationship to entity:  Board President