America's WETLAND is one of the largest and most productive expanses of coastal wetlands in North America. This valuable landscape extending along Louisiana's coast is disappearing at a rate of 25 square miles per year. 

In the largest public awareness initiative in its history, Louisiana is leading America's WETLAND: Campaign to Save Coastal Louisiana. The America's WETLAND Foundation through the Campaign is raising awareness of the impact of Louisiana's wetland loss and increase support for efforts to conserve and save coastal Louisiana.

MISSION: The State of Louisiana and the America's WETLAND Foundation are raising public awareness of the impact Louisiana's wetland loss has on the state, nation and world and will gain support for efforts to save coastal Louisiana. In the largest, most comprehensive public education initiative in its history, the Foundation launched America's WETLAND: Campaign to Save Coastal Louisiana in August 2002. Since then the Campaign has established the values and significance of this vast world ecological region and highlighted the pending economic and energy security threat posed to our nation by its destruction.

The America's WETLAND Campaign has elevated issues associated with Louisiana's coastal land loss at local and state levels to national and world status. The State of Louisiana, with support from its congressional delegation, state legislature, and prominent business and civic leaders, will set the foundation and momentum for this global initiative. The America's WETLAND Campaign has partnered with many organizations to bring the issue of Louisiana's land loss to the attention of the nation. Some of those groups include the Women of the Storm, the Coast Guardians and initiatives like America's Energy Coast. Please visit those sites to learn more about our ongoing work.

WEBSITE: www.americaswetland.com

On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina flooded 80 percent of the City of New Orleans and killed 1,577 people. Hardest hit was the Lower 9th Ward where more than 4,000 homes were destroyed by the storm and the surge of water caused by the breach of the Industrial Canal levee.

Two years later, when actor Brad Pitt toured the city, the once-vibrant neighborhood was still silent and razed, failed by government, frustrated by a lack of progress. After meeting with community groups and families, Pitt established the Make It Right Foundation to build 150 green, affordable, high-quality design homes in the neighborhood closest to the levee breach. 

Make It Right kicked off in December, 2007 with the Pink Project – an installation of pink geometric shapes scattered over the 14-square block site where the real houses would be built.  As donations came in, the pieces of the symbolic houses were “righted” on their lots.  The Pink Project raised 12 million dollars and brought global attention to the challenges and possibilities of rebuilding the Lower 9th Ward.

Since then, 21 local, national and international architects have donated designs for single family and duplexes to Make It Right. By December 2009, there will be 50 homes on the site; by December 2010, there will be 150.  Because all of the homes built to date have been certified as LEED platinum for their energy efficiency and sustainability, the Make It Right community is now the “largest, greenest neighborhood of single family homes in America,” according to the U.S. Green Building Council.

On the morning of Saturday August 30th, 2008, in response to the approach of Hurricane Gustav, Mayor Ray Nagin activated the City Assisted Evacuation Plan for the first time since its inception in 2006. The purpose of the CAEP is “to help citizens who want to evacuate during an emergency, but lack the capability to self-evacuate,” by utilizing trains, buses, and planes. During the CAEP, over 200 volunteers assisted evacuation operations at the Union Passenger Terminal from which evacuees left the city. Volunteers were also on hand at City Hall inside the New Orleans 311 information center registering evacuees. An equal number were present to assist the re-entry of the 20,000 beneficiaries of the CAEP.

What Americans saw during the two days of evacuating were tens of thousands of New Orleanians leaving their city on chartered buses. What they didn’t see were volunteers, young and old, native and newly-moved, offering their skills and manpower to assist the evacuation.

They translated to non-English speakers. Helped seniors off platforms. Tagged pets with registration collars. Distributed water and snacks. Lugged heavy baggage. Many of these evacuation volunteers had no idea what was in store for them over the course of their time, but were willing to help however they were needed.

The Gustav CAEP was a success, but simultaneously revealed many areas that could be improved. Stronger initial coordination and planning, for example, would allow willing volunteers to report to pick-up locations across the city at pre-determined times rather than all converging on the embarkation stations. Early identification of job responsibilities combined with annual and pertinent trainings would allow specialized volunteers to more effectively and efficiently perform their duties. Finally, conducting outreach and establishing relationships with organizations that desire to assist the evacuation of high-need populations will allow greater empowerment of evacuation volunteers across the city.

Thus, Evacuteer.org was launched on June 2, 2009 as an organization of New Orleans citizens committed to serving as “evacuteers” upon the future initiation of the CAEP.

• To develop a network of organizations committed to assisting evacuteer.org upon initiation of the CAEP
• To empower Evacuteer Liaisons within partner organizations in order to keep expectations and trainings up-to-date
• To establish a broad and diverse donation revenue stream to support evacuteer.org initatives, with the ultimate goal of perpetually improving operational effectiveness of volunteer use during evacuations
• To be the premier volunteer-mobilization entity in the City of New Orleans for individuals and organizations committed to assisting in the CAEP

Thank you for your interest in this organization.

In fact, as a 501(c)(3) corporation, Fore!Kids has helped to raise over $19 million to date, providing healthcare, education and hope for more than 200,000 kids each year. That's passion for you.