JLNO announces landmark $200,000 donation from Gayle Benson to bolster Diaper Bank operations

Written By Alicia Vial

NEW ORLEANS – The Junior League of New Orleans (JLNO) is proud to announce a transformative $200,000 gift from local philanthropist Gayle Benson to expand the impact of the Diaper Bank, a cornerstone program providing essential hygienic products to families across the Greater New Orleans area.

One in every two families struggles to afford diapers. Three in five parents miss work or school because they cannot afford the diapers required to leave their baby in childcare. Over the past 10 years, the JLNO Diaper Bank has distributed more than 10 million diapers throughout the community – improving infant health, reducing parental stress and removing barriers to accessing childcare. 

“The health and well‑being of our families are the foundation of a strong New Orleans,” said Benson. “When we care for our children, we care for the future of this city we all love. The Junior League of New Orleans’ Diaper Bank provides more than just physical supplies; it provides dignity, stability, and a sense of relief to parents and caregivers who are doing everything they can to give their children a healthy start in life.”

The funding comes at a critical juncture for the organization. Over the past year, the Diaper Bank was only able to fulfill approximately 80% of diaper requests from its community partners, leaving an unmet need of over 132,000 diapers. Due to capacity constraints, the program currently has a waitlist of 50 community organizations seeking to distribute supplies. Benson’s gift will allow JLNO to procure additional inventory—including diapers, period supplies and adult incontinence products—and strategically expand its partner network to reach those currently on the waitlist.

"Since its inception, the Junior League of New Orleans’ Diaper Bank has distributed upwards of $2.7M in free products to the community, but the need still outweighs our current capacity,” said JLNO president Michelle Clarke Payne. “Mrs. Benson’s generosity is a defining moment for the thousands of families we can serve. Her gift does more than fill our shelves; it gives us the flexibility to scale our operations to match the true level of need in our city."

In recognition of this significant investment in the community, JLNO will name its primary volunteer workspace the Benson Volunteer Center. The space will serve as the heart of the Diaper Bank’s operations, where League members and community volunteers gather to sort, wrap and prep thousands of products for distribution.

For more information about the JLNO Diaper Bank visit www.jlno.org

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‍ About Junior League New Orleans
Junior League of New Orleans is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to advancing women’s leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration and training. More information on the organization can be found at www.jlno.org.

Alicia Vial

Alicia Vial is a New Orleans native with more than a decade of experience elevating client stories and leading crisis response. As the senior director of strategy, Alicia acts as a leader within the Gambel Communications team ensuring each agency team member is positioned to deliver strategic public relations services that meet the highest standards of the industry. In addition to supporting the agency’s long-term business growth and development, she coordinates day-to-day account services and oversees strategic direction while staying abreast of best practices and industry trends to provide innovative solutions to meet client’s needs.

Before joining Gambel Communications, Alicia served as the communications director for the Louisiana SPCA, the oldest and largest animal welfare organization in Louisiana that impacts more than 74,000 animals per year. During her nearly eight-year tenure, Alicia oversaw numerous crises, served on national communication taskforces, oversaw all aspects of internal and external relations and worked alongside the development department to raise critical funding. Prior to that, she worked in the fast-paced New Orleans hospitality industry focusing on digital public relations for multiple hotels.

Alicia is a member of the Public Relations Association of Louisiana (PRAL), Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF), a board member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) New Orleans Chapter and a member of the New Orleans Regional Leadership Institute. An accredited public relations practitioner (APR), Alicia is also certified in crisis communications, organizational leadership, content marketing and social media.

A well respected and trusted public relations practitioner, Alicia has been recognized by SPRF as a ‘Senior Practitioner of the Year’. Dubbed early on in her career as one to watch, she also received the ‘Rising Star’ award by PRAL and was profiled in St. Charles Avenue Magazine as part of their Young Bloods series. Most recently, she was recognized at PRSA’s annual Fleurish Awards and received four Awards of Excellence for her work along with the ‘Plate Spinner’ award for her efforts on the board of directors for the chapter.

An LSU graduate, Alicia received a bachelor's degree in mass communications with a concentration in public relations and minors in business administration and leadership development. She is a frequent speaker and presenter on public relations topics, most recently presenting at the Jefferson Economic Development Commission and SPRF annual conference.

When Alicia is not at work, you can find her at the ballpark with her three boys or cheering on the Tigers in Death Valley.

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