On November 20, 2008, the Greater Northshore Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) will formally recognize outstanding philanthropists and philanthropic activity on the Northshore. National Philanthropy Day® is the day set aside to recognize and pay tribute to the great contributions that philanthropy–and those people active in the philanthropic community–have made in our lives, our communities and our world. 2008 marks the twenty-third anniversary of this special day in the United States.

On the Northshore, National Philanthropy Day® will be celebrated during an awards luncheon held at the Pontchartrain Yacht Club in Mandeville. This year’s event will feature the presentation of awards in three important categories. Harry A. Warner, Covington native and leader on the Northshore, will be honored as Philanthropist of the Year for his long history of financial support, assistance and service to our non-profit community. Baptist Community Ministries, which has funded healthcare and education initiatives in St. Tammany Parish, will receive the award as Outstanding Foundation. St. Tammany Homestead will receive the award for Outstanding Leadership in Corporate Philanthropy. St. Tammany Homestead has supported healthcare, community development and the arts through its financial gifts and volunteerism throughout the Northshore.

The National Philanthropy Day® event will also feature Brooke E. Smith as the keynote speaker. Smith serves as the Director of Strategic Partnerships in Louisiana’s newly-created office of Social Entrepreneurship, the first of its kind in the nation. In 2006, Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu founded the Louisiana Office of Social Entrepreneurship (LAOSE), positioning Louisiana as one of the most welcoming places in the country for social innovation.

Aimee Smallwood, Executive Director for the Slidell Memorial Hospital Foundation and President-elect of the Greater Northshore Chapter of AFP, is chair for the luncheon. “We see a growing sense of philanthropy in our area and it is vital that we recognize those who give back to improve the quality of life in our communities,” Smallwood says.

Today, the United States has more than 1.4 million nonprofit organizations and they account for five percent of our Gross Domestic Product. Annual contributions have grown faster than the economy for years, and experts predict that by 2052 an estimated $6 trillion will flow directly to social enterprise organizations. Louisiana’s nonprofits stand to have a share in these expected increases in donations.

Tickets for the event are $35 each. Tables for eight may be purchased for $300 and will include recognition. Tickets are limited and must be reserved in advance. To reserve your seat or for more information, contact Nicole Suhre at 985-898-4171 or nsuhre@stph.org.

THE ASSOCIATION OF FUNDRAISING PROFESSIONALS is a non-profit, non-sectarian, non-political organization, representing over 27,000 members in 180 chapters worldwide, with its primary goal being the advancement of ethics, knowledge and understanding in the field of fund raising for philanthropic causes. To learn more, contact membership chair Vanessa Crouere at vcrouere@sjasc.edu.

Slidell Memorial Hospital (SMH) Foundation is pleased to grant $5,000 to the “Fit As A Firefighter” summer camp. This week-long camp, organized by Fire District 1 and Slidell Memorial Hospital, targets children aged 7 to 12 years struggling with their weight. The activities help the campers gain knowledge of healthy nutrition, fitness choices while gaining the strength and self-confidence needed to develop a positive self-image and personal coping mechanisms. In addition, they learn about being safe in their home, school and community.

“The SMH Board believes that this program gives direct benefit to our community, especially to the children attending, who now have a chance to change their lives through healthy choices,” says Aimee Smallwood, SMH Foundation’s Executive Director.

This camp is free to the attendees and is supported by a network of more than 20 community organizations and public agencies, such as the Louisiana National Guard, Acadian Ambulance, Volunteers of America, the U.S. Coast Guard and Cross Gates Athletic Club.

“Fit As A Firefighter” is in high demand and expanding to accommodate more participants is being considered for the summer of 2009. Recently, this camp was recognized by City Business as an “Innovator of Year” award recipient.

The Slidell Memorial Hospital (SMH) Foundation recently awarded the Radiation Oncology Department $7,085 to purchase a Fiberoptic RhinoLaryngoscope. This equipment, which will be dedicated to Radiation Oncology Department, enables patients with cancer of the head, neck, bronchial and esophageal areas to be examined routinely during their treatment and follow up as needed. Patients will no longer have to wait to be scheduled according to availability of the scope shared by other departments.

“Convenience and compassion go hand-in-hand when it comes to treating those in our cancer program,” says Lori Fonte, Director of Radiation Oncology. “The funding of this scope allows us to do this. It also benefits our medical personnel, who persistently strive to work as effectively and efficiently as possible when delivering care,” she adds.

Covington, LA. –June 2, 2008—The Greater Northshore Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) is pleased to announce that it will present the first-annual Northshore National Philanthropy Day celebration on Nov. 20, 2008. Northshore National Philanthropy Day will be chaired by Aimee Smallwood, Executive Director of the Slidell Memorial Hospital Foundation.

The Association of Fundraising Professionals sponsors an annual awards program to recognize outstanding achievement by individual, foundation and corporate philanthropists and fundraising volunteers.

Smallwood has more than 25 years’ experience in the development field. A long-time Slidell resident, she joined the Slidell Memorial Hospital Foundation in October of 2007 after her tenure as Associate Director of the Contemporary Arts Center in New Orleans. She joined the Northshore Chapter of AFP soon after the chapter was formed in 2007.

“A National Philanthropy Day event will give us the opportunity to recognize our very generous individuals, corporations and foundations. The Northshore has really come of age, and helping the philanthropic community to come together will draw attention to the importance of giving,” Smallwood said.

Awards for Northshore National Philanthropy Day are: Outstanding Individual Philanthropist, Outstanding Corporate Philanthropist, Outstanding Foundation Philanthropist and Outstanding Fundraising Volunteer. Nominations will be sought from nonprofit organizations throughout St. Tammany and the Florida Parishes beginning in July. A committee of AFP will determine the final awards, which will be presented at a luncheon on Nov. 20.

Carolyn Chassee, CFRE, Vice President for Development at Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center and the Greater Northshore Chapter president, said the chapter is excited to deliver an event that reminds the community of the many generous contributions that have been made to provide a better quality of life in the Northshore community.

National Philanthropy Day® (NPD) is a special day set aside annually across the nation to recognize the great contributions of philanthropy — and those people active in the philanthropic community--to the enrichment of our world.

National Philanthropy Day® provides an opportunity to reflect on the meaning of giving and all that it has made possible. First held in 1986, NPD celebrates the endless daily contributions individuals and organizations across the world make to countless causes and missions. Last year, more than 100 AFP chapters held NPD events and activities across North America.

Through NPD, participants are able to show appreciation for all that has been accomplished in the name of giving, to remind our communities, our society and the world that the spirit of giving is alive and well and that there is still more to do.