This has been an unbelievable year for New Orleans’ recovery thanks to all of you brave enough to stay and work hard to make our city the best ever. Whether you’ve helped local groups and nonprofits such as the LA/SPCA, City Park, Habitat for Humanity, New Orleans Museum of Art, United Negro College Fund, the Louisiana Children’s Museum, Catholic Charities, Audubon Nature Institute, Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans, our schools—and many others—you’ve made a tremendous difference.

George Villere, Nancy Marsiglia, Dr. John Church and Bev Church for Make It Right


This month’s cover represents an amazing effort led by actor and philanthropist Brad Pitt to Make it Right for the Lower Ninth Ward and New Orleans. Thanks to Make It Right director Tom Darden and local architects especially John Williams of Williams Architects, who is the local point man in charge of design implementation, Trey Trahan of Trahan Architects, Steven Bingler of Concordia, Steve Dumez of Eskew + Dumez + Ripple, and Richard Kravet of Billes Architecture for being on the cover. These incredible architecture firms, as well as four national and five international architecture firms, are donating their time and expertise to design “cradle to cradle,” sustainable, affordable “green” home designs for people who owned their homes in the Lower Ninth Ward. If you want more information about Make It Right, go to the Web site, www.makeitrightnola.org.

Kudos to Brad Pitt for keeping New Orleans and the recovery in the news all over the world. To thank Brad Pitt and the Make It Right Foundation, the Villeres, Marsiglias, Millings, Wests, Duboses and my husband, Dr. John Church, and I are donating $1,000 and we are challenging our community to do the same so we can raise at least $150,000—the cost of one Make It Right house. If you want to donate, please make checks payable to Make It Right, note in the memo part, “NO Cares,” and mail the check to: Beverly Church, 5914 Pitt St., New Orleans, La.,  70115. If you would like to donate an entire house or any amount, do that as well. Donations are tax deductible.

Of course, there are other worthy organizations that need New Orleanians’ attention, so please check out our “Registry of Charitable Events” for January through April 2008. Please send any information on events planned after that—or those that we missed for February, March or April—to Sue Strachan at sstrachan@renaissancepublishingllc.com.


Other Matters
Can you believe Carnival season is already here? Mardi Gras day is Feb. 5! In “What’s Hot” there are some gifts ideas for your favorite debutante, or ones that the debutante may want to give to herself!

Anne Milling, King Milling and Madeline West for Make It Right


If you are thinking of adding to your art collection, go to Soren Christensen Gallery, located in the heart of the Warehouse Arts District on the corner of Julia and Magazine streets. The gallery features contemporary paintings, sculpture and photography by 31 national and international artists including Paula Landrum, Beth Lambert, Adele Sypestyn, Bradley Sabin and many others in mediums including ceramics, glass and two-dimensional wall hangings, available at every price point.

I just went into Aucoin Hart Jewelers to talk to Tommy Aucoin Jr. and he let me know that the hot thing this year is big, bold color! Because Aucoin Hart has the most fabulous design  team on staff, they can create just the look you want. The clean, classic look is always a must and the mixture of colorful gems like sapphires, rubies, emeralds, aquamarine, peridot or pink tourmaline mixed with diamonds are the most popular. Whether you want a big, bold, colorful ring, a layered necklace or bracelet, go to 1525 Metairie Rd. and see all of the choices.

Clancy Dubos, Margo Dubos and Mike Marsiglia for Make It Right


On a sad note, Mr. James J. Coleman Sr. (J.J) passed away and we will miss him so much. Our hearts go out this his beloved wife Gigi and his whole family who always came first with him. His kindness, caring, generosity and commitment to New Orleans earned him the Times-Picayune Loving Cup, and he touched so many of us every day of his life. I’ve sent a check to Crimestoppers—one of his favorite charities—in his honor and urge you all to do the same.