Shapiro Family Foundation awards more than $85,000 to New Orleans nonprofits at 2nd Annual Nourish & Flourish Reception

Written By Alicia Vial

NEW ORLEANS – The Shapiro Family Foundation announced its 2026 Nourish & Flourish Grant recipients and celebrated nonprofit partners at a grant reception held Tuesday, Sept. 29 at Clover New Orleans’ Patrick F. Taylor Campus.

More than $85,000 in grants and community investments were recognized during the evening, part of more than $100,000 the Foundation has contributed in 2026 to organizations serving New Orleans and the surrounding community.

“These organizations represent the very best of what makes our community strong,” said Allison Shapiro Dandry, founder and executive director of the Shapiro Family Foundation. “They are meeting urgent needs while also creating pathways to healthier, more stable futures. We want our philanthropy to be more than writing a check — we want to know our partners, understand what they need and help strengthen the work they are already doing.”

The Foundation celebrated five 2026 Nourish & Flourish Grant recipients, each receiving a $10,000 grant:

  • Edible Schoolyard New Orleans: A signature program of FirstLine Schools that integrates hands-on organic gardening and seasonal cooking into the school curriculum, helping children build healthy connections with food and the natural world.

  • Grace at the Green Light: A New Orleans nonprofit that provides daily meals, water and basic care to people experiencing homelessness while connecting guests with additional support and resources.

  • Health and Education Alliance of Louisiana (HEAL): A New Orleans-based nonprofit working to eliminate health and educational disparities for at-risk children by integrating school-based healthcare services and helping schools access federal Medicaid funding.

  • Louisiana Center for Children’s Rights (LCCR): A New Orleans-based nonprofit providing holistic legal defense and advocacy to keep children out of the justice system and help them thrive in their communities.

  • VIA LINK: A 24/7 crisis-support and community-services organization connecting people to essential help online and through 311 and 988.

The Foundation also renewed its commitment to two organizations that have been important partners in its work, presenting each with a $10,000 Community Impact Award:

  • Clover New Orleans: Supports children and families through education, family services and community programs.

  • Early Partners: Provides high-quality early childhood education and helps prepare children for kindergarten and lifelong learning.

New this year, the Foundation introduced its Lagniappe Grants, designed to respond when an unexpected or urgent expense could affect a nonprofit’s ability to continue serving the community. The grants reflect the Foundation’s commitment to working alongside organizations, understanding immediate needs and helping strengthen work already underway.

This year’s Lagniappe Grant recipients are:

  • New Orleans Mission: Provides shelter, meals and supportive services to people experiencing homelessness and crisis.

  • Arete Scholars: Expands educational access by providing need-based scholarships for K–12 students.

The evening also highlighted additional organizations the Foundation has supported during 2025–26, including Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans & Acadiana, KID smART, the American Heart Association, the New Orleans Ballet Association and the Greater New Orleans Foundation’s GiveNOLA Day, among others.

A special part of the evening recognized Toups Family Meal and Amanda and Isaac Toups for their extraordinary work fighting childhood hunger and supporting New Orleans families. The Foundation also shared an update on the Toups Family Meal Kitchen, donated by the Shapiro Family Foundation and the expanded food preparation and community-serving capacity the new kitchen is expected to make possible.

Together, the Nourish & Flourish Grants, Community Impact Awards, Lagniappe Grants and additional nonprofit investments reflect the Foundation’s broader approach to philanthropy: responding to urgent needs while building lasting relationships with organizations working every day to strengthen New Orleans.

The next Nourish & Flourish grant cycle is expected to open in spring 2027. Nonprofits interested in future opportunities can find eligibility information and updates at shapirofamilyfoundation.com.

 

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About the Shapiro Family Foundation:

Founded in 2025, the Shapiro Family Foundation is committed to fostering a more equitable and thriving community in New Orleans by addressing disparities in hunger relief and championing education access and equity. The foundation partners with local nonprofits with deep connection to the communities they serve to help expand their reach, strengthen their programs and ultimately create lasting positive change throughout New Orleans. To learn more about the Shapiro Family Foundation and upcoming grant cycles visit shapirofamilyfoundation.com.

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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