Grammy Winning Grandmother Helps Charter School

Media inquiries: Josh Fertitta (504) 593-8264 or H. Harper (504) 897-6110

Irma Thomas headlines benefit for Lake Forest Charter, a national Blue Ribbon School, on Saturday, Oct. 12

What if your Grandmother was a Grammy Award Winner? Would you get her to help your charter school?            

Well, there was no question for Grandmother Irma Thomas, whose grandchild is a student at Lake Forest Elementary Charter School in eastern New Orleans. The school is having its inaugural Cocktails and Blues benefit and Grandmother and Soul Queen of New Orleans Irma Thomas was too happy to step up and help, said Chief Executive Officer Mardele Early.            

Lake Forest was recently selected as one of 286 National Blue Ribbon Schools by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, and will be recognized this November in Washington D.C. for being one of the top 6 academically performing schools in Louisiana.

The school’s success has been building over 25 years, but moved into high gear after Hurricane Katrina, when the school re-opened as a charter school. Led by CEO Early and a team of determined educators and parents, the community reordered the school from the ground up, and is now the 6th highest academically rated elementary school in the state, rated an “A+” school by the State Department of Education. More than 80 percent of the school’s students qualify for free or reduced lunch services.           

Ms. Thomas will headline “Cocktails and Blues” along with opening act “The Soul Heirs.” The ticket and silent auction sales from event will support the school’s programs.            

The event is Saturday, October 12th, 8:00 p.m. (VIP/Patron Party at 7:30 p.m.); The Roosevelt Hotel, 123 Baronne St., New Orleans. Tickets are $55 in advance, $65 at the door and are inclusive of entertainment, cocktails and light hors d’oeuvres. VIP Tickets are $75 and include name recognition in event journal and access to the VIP/Patron party at 7:30 p.m. Sponsorship opportunities are still available.

For more information visit http://www.lakeforestcharter.org/cocktailsandblues or call (504) 593-8264.

WHEN: Saturday, October 12th, 8:00 p.m.                        
VIP/Patron Party at 7:30pm  

WHERE: The Roosevelt Hotel 123 Baronne St., New Orleans, LA 70112