For the Bayou works with musicians and artists that support restoration and protection of Louisiana's wetlands and speak to the emergency humanitarian needs of the people living in South Louisiana and along the Gulf Coast. In working with these artists, we hope to educate fans on the importance of our nation's biggest coastal wetlands, and to help preserve this environment, its culture and its people for many generations to come.

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
by Page Perry

2010 brought tragedy, as well as many new challenges to the Gulf Coast and its people, wetlands, waters and animals.  In the midst of these confrontations, For the Bayou worked diligently to make a positive difference for Louisiana's coast and people.  Total donations from For the Bayou in 2010 to wetland and coastal habitat restoration as well as humanitarian assistance in the wake of the BP oil spill totaled $39,450. 

The first Bay for the Bayou 2010 event in San Francisco was a huge success thanks to many Louisiana musicians, artists and volunteers who donated their time and talent last September, we were able to raise over $40,000.   View pictures from the event at http://www.flickr.com/photos/forthebayou.

From this successful event, we donated $25,000 to the Restore the Earth Foundation for the Gulf Saver Solutions Initiative; this donation helped to conduct the first major restorative wetland planting since the BP oil spill in December 2010.  Oil was found in the area with almost every footstep and with every dig.  

Rather than planting native marsh grasses as independent plants, this initiative seeks to implement a new wetlands restoration technique of planting Gulf Saver Bags, a pre-assembled package of native marsh grasses in a US Army Corps of Engineers standard biodegradable "burlap (sand) bag", that is filled with an all natural humus mix that helps in breaking down oil.

The Gulf Saver Solutions Initiative is coordinating several projects to deploy thousands of Gulf Saver environmental bags to restore native marsh grasses in wetland habitats at Pass a Loutre Wildlife Management Area (WMA), in southern Plaquemines Parish.  The first of these plantings went forward on December 16 and 17, when a crew of volunteers, in cooperation with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana traveled by airboat to distribute Gulf Saver Bags at the Wildlife Management Area that forms the southeast tip of Plaquemines Parish where the Mississippi River empties into the Gulf of Mexico.  Click here for pictures and details of the planting.
 
The wetland habitat within the Pass a Loutre WMA provides a natural home and breeding grounds for shrimp, crabs, oysters, and more than five million migratory birds. The southeastern Louisiana shoreline wetlands and barrier islands are the first line of defense protecting the area's populations against storm surge and tidal fluctuations.
 
This was the first wetlands restoration project in Louisiana since the Gulf Oil spill and we are proud to have supported this planting and future projects in the area.  We will be sure to keep you updated on the progress of these plantings throughout the year!

You can continue to support these efforts by making a donation to For the Bayou or directly to Gulf Saver Solutions www.gulfsaversolutions.com.  You can also volunteer to plant.  Please sign up with the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana at www.crcl.org or call 1.888.522.6278. 

The remaining monies from our Bay For the Bayou Benefit 2010 will be allocated this spring to go toward further wetland and habitat restoration along Louisiana's coast.  Thank you to all of you, musicians, artists and volunteers who assisted in this major effort!  We look forward to having you back in the Bay Area to showcase your talent and to assist us in restoring Louisiana’s coast.

FEATURED ARTIST

ANDERS OSBORNE
An incredibly talented musician whose music and presence on stage is riveting, spiritual and astounding to his audience. Born in Sweden, he left home at 16 and traveled throughout the world playing music to eventually land in New Orleans in 1985. Aside from an early following of devoted fans dating back to Anders shows in local clubs in the French Quarter, Anders following has grown, as his notoriety. He has co-written Grammy winning songs with Keb'Mo, his songs have been featured in Hollywood movies, he has produced a variety of albums for fellow friends and musicians in New Orleans and his lyrics and songwriting ability are sought by musicians throughout the country. He has been an active voice for the Louisiana's wetland crisis with the Voice of the Wetland Allstars: Tab Benoit, Cyrill Neville, Dr. John, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, Jumpin' Johnny Sansone, Waylon Thibodeaux, George Porter Jr. and Johnny Vidochovich. His latest album, American Patchwork, is one not to be missed as it speaks to Anders' own personal journey, struggles and recovery and those of his home and people of New Orleans. "He is able to refine and relate to the ordinary, making you feel a bit extraordinary in the process."
watch video | www.andersosborne.com

PAST EVENTS

California

BAY FOR THE BAYOU BENEFIT 2012
A HUGE SUCCESS!
Over $40,000 in NET proceeds were raised at the 2012 Bay For the Bayou Benefit in San Francisco.  For the Bayou has approved granting these funds to assist in restoring Raccoon Island, a Barrier Island of the Isle Dernière chain along Louisiana's coast that contains sensitive, disappearing salt marshes, is as a major nesting ground for Brown Pelicans and shorebirds and acts as a barrier to inland marshes and wetlands. The restoration will be an effort led by the organization's partner, Restore the Earth Foundation, along with assistance and financial support from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, the Coypu Foundation and other generous sponsors.

BAY FOR THE BAYOU 1st ANNUAL MUSIC & CULTURAL BENEFIT
100% OF THE NET PROCEEDS FOR HUMANITARIAN & ENVIRONMENTAL RELIEF
SAN FRANCISCO, CA
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2010 | 7pm - 1am
Raised over $25,000 for emergency efforts. Grass roots of generosity from the Bay to the Bayou & Gulf Coast by San Francisco restaurants, artists, businesses, non-profits and people. On this eve of the Saints vs. SF49ers, an All Star line up and jam of New Orleans and Bay Area musicians for hours of music and camaraderie were featured with visiting Saints fans, people from the Bay and beyond. Read Press Release->

GENO DELAFOSE & FRENCH ROCKIN' BOOGIE, SAN RAFAEL, CA SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 2010
Osher Marin JCC featured Geno Delafose supporting For the Bayou as part of their Performing Art Series in August. Le Cowboy Creole and his French Rockin' Boogie performed and a booth was set up with information on how to get involved in assisting with the Gulf Oil Disaster in Louisiana and the Gulf Coast. www.genodelafose.net
For Tickets: www.marinjcc.org/performing_arts

FUNK OIL BENEFIT
IVAN NEVILLE's DUMPSTAPHUNK & Bay Area heroes
Joe Bagale & Crystal Monee Hall
Great American Music Hall | San Francisco
Friday, July 23, 2010
Brought to you by SF Weekly & Sunset Promotions. All show profits going to FOR THE BAYOU
$22 advance / $25 DOS at www.gamhtickets.com
Click for Facebook Link

JULY 2010.  SF WEEKLY & SUNSET PROMOTIONS CHOSE FOR THE BAYOU AS BENEFICIARY OF SAN FRANCISCO’S “FUNK OIL”AND THE ALL SHOOK DOWN FESTIVAL FEATURING IVAN NEVILLE’S DUMPSTAPHUNK & OTHER ARTISTS.  FESTIVAL RAISES OVER $3500 FOR THE BAYOU.  SAN FRANCISCO, CA.
The San Francisco Chronicle’s SF Weekly and Sunset Promotions kicked off the weekend’s All Shook Down Music Festival with a massive benefit for the festival’s nonprofit sponsor, For the Bayou. “FUNK OIL”, a benefit concert of over 530 people hosted at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco.  The concert featured the New Orleans musical all-star ensemble, Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk and opening sets by Bay Area R&B/jazz heroes the Joe Bagale and southern soul diva Crystal Monee Hall. “FUNK OIL” was the official kickoff party for their All Shook Down Music Street Festival in the North Beach district of San Francisco featuring Neon Indian and Janelle Monae.  There were over 5000 attending the street festival in San Francisco.  Through the work of the event co-producers, SF Weekly and Sunset Promotions, over $3500 was raised and donated to For the Bayou to assist in emergency efforts in South Louisiana.  Thank you to the co-producing organizations for their generosity and support.

JUNE 29 2010.  BAY AREA FUNK ARTISTS "BROTHERS GOLDMAN" RAISE $500 AT YOSHI'S S.F. BENEFIT. SAN FRANCISCO, CA
San Francisco musical group “The Brothers Goldman” and San Francisco based non-profit For the Bayou joined forces to raise emergency funds for the Louisiana wetlands and coastline.   World renowned jazz night club Yoshis’ SF hosted a ...”REAL DEAL PHAT Tuesday” party featuring SF’s own The Brothers Goldman.  Before, during and after the performance, Bay area radio personality Linda Seabright of KRSH 95.9FM and other volunteers were on hand to discuss For the Bayou’s projects, New Orleans Music, Food, Art and accept donations. The event raised $500 to support restoration and preservation of Louisiana’s wetlands.

The Brothers Goldman have been playing in venues all over the San Francisco Bay Area since 2003, serving up a spicy gumbo of New Orleans street fonk and acid jazz they call Tantric Fonk.

FEBRUARY 18, 2010.  MOJITO & FOR THE BAYOU RAISE $3000 AT SAINTS SUPERBOWL BENEFIT.  SAN FRANCSICO, CA.
Mojito Restaurant and Bar in the North Beach district of San Francisco co-hosted an off the wall Saints Superbowl Benefit party with For the Bayou to raise funds for wetland restoration and awareness of Louisiana’s coastal crisis.  Guests were transported to the Big Easy as the packed crowd of enthusiastic Saints fans were fed gumbo, jambalaya, red beans and rice and homemade corn bread all cooked by For the Bayou’s Founder, Elizabeth Welborn.  If that was not enough, many For the Bayou representatives made homemade Mardi Gras King Cake that was passed around to the crowd.  The energy and emotions ran high throughout the game with moments of despair followed by roars of cheers.  Fans and transplanted Louisiana natives shared many tears as the Superbowl championship for the Saints meant much more than simply a trophy.  It meant the city had survived and triumphed over major struggles after Katrina and that hopes and dreams were within reach for the city and for South Louisiana.  Many guests commented the evening was their favorite evening out in San Francisco.   100% of the door went to For the Bayou to assist in wetland plantings and awareness efforts of the environmental crisis.  We thank Mojito and their enthusiastic and heartfelt staff for their assistance in this effort!

Louisiana

JULY 2010.  ANTHROPOLOGIE CHOSES FOR THE BAYOU AS CHARITY ASSOCIATED WITH NEW ORELANS CANAL STREET STORE OPENING ON AUGUST 27, 2010. 
Anthropologie chooses For the Bayou for its New Orleans store opening in Canal Place in late August 2010.  The popular and funky fashion and houseware chain, Anthropologie, is finally coming to New Orleans with its store opening to take place on the weekend of the 5 year anniversary of Katrina.  The opening is by invitation only and will feature wine for guests and music by Thelonius Monk Institute.  For the Bayou will receive 10% of the proceeds of sales that evening on the opening day.  Anthropologie’s decision and timing on its New Orleans store gives hope that new companies are enthusiastic to do business in New Orleans and South Louisiana.  In addition, the store has incorporated works by several local artists, including Alexa Pulitzer and Sarah Ashley Longshore.
Read More->

JUNE 2010.  TESS AID BENEFIT FOR THE BAYOUT RAISES EMERGENCY MONEY FOR HUMANITARIAN AID TO FISHERMAN & COASTAL RESIDENTS AFFECTED BY THE BP OIL SPILL. NEW ORLEANS, LA
As south Louisiana’s coast continued its ongoing battle against the invasion of crude from BP’s Deepwater Horizon platform rig explosion, residents Nissa and Rick Teissier decided they wanted to help.  Nissa Teissier used her creative talent and compassion to pull together, in less than two weeks time, “Tess-Aid For the Bayou”, a backyard, grass roots benefit party that raised over $10,000 for fisherman and their families affected by the BP oil disaster.  

(input previous fundraiser info from blog on old website)

Nissa teamed up with For The Bayou, to assist in reaching fishermen and residents affected along the coast.  See “July 2010.  For the Bayou allocated $9455 to the Alliance for Gulf Coast Communities Fund for Emergency Humanitarian Aid”

Colorado

4th Annual LSU Gumbo Cook-off & Silent Auction
Sponsored by: LSU Alumni Chapter of Colorado Partnered & Tulane Alumni Chapter of Colorad
August 8, 2010 4pm - 8 pm
NoNo's Café 3005 W. County Line Road
Littleton, CO
Please join us for the 4th Annual Denver LSU Alumni Gumbo Cook-off co-sponsored by the Tulane Alumni Chapter of Colorado. The beneficiary this year is For the Bayou with 100% of funds raised to help humanitarian and environmental efforts in South Louisiana. If you are interested in purchasing tickets or donating to the silent auction,
visit: www.lsudenver.com
Contact: gumbo@lsudenver.com