The Coast Guard Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to the education and welfare of Coast Guard members and families, is presenting its 25 annual Tribute to the Eighth Coast Guard District in New Orleans for its response to Hurricane Harvey. The presentation will be made at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans on Friday, March 2.
“Since the event’s inception in 1994, we have raised over $9 million for the benefit of the men and women of the United States Coast Guard,” said Susan Ludwig, president of the Coast Guard Foundation, in a statement. “The members of the Eighth District are often some of the first to be called when natural disasters strike They go willingly and act with the utmost professionalism, even when many of their families are impacted by these same tragedies. We are humbled to recognize these brave individuals.”
The event will feature an address by Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Paul F. Zukunft. RADM Paul Thomas, commander of the Eighth Coast Guard District, will also be in attendance. The emcee for the presentation is Reggie Rivers, a broadcaster, motivational speaker and former NFL running back who played six seasons with the Denver Broncos.
The Foundation will acknowledge the community’s 25-year support of this event. With the help of the community, the Foundation provides scholarship and morale programs for local service members and their families as well as those stationed across the country. In addition, the Foundation’s disaster-relief program has provided more than $1.6 million to Coast Guard members impacted by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the Louisiana Floods in 2016, and most recently, the three hurricanes that struck Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico in 2017.
