The mission of the Hosts of Halloween is to provide funding for Project Lazarus, a home in New Orleans for men and women with AIDS, so that they may provide healthcare and support services for their residents. Project Lazarus, which provides direct AIDS services, is the sole beneficiary of all funds which are raised.
In our 29 year history, we have raised over $4.6M for Project Lazarus. We are one of the only 100% donation/volunteer event weekends left in the US.
Scroll down to see letters from Project Lazarus and The Trevor Project (2012 secondary beneficiary).
2013 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Ryan Wentworth: Chair
Dustin Woehrmann: Vice Chair, Marketing
Trey Woodside: Vice Chair, Finance
John Ramsey: Vice Chair, Sponsorship
Jason Waguespack: General Counsel
Jerry Fredieu: Advisor
THURSDAY:
Khalil Bou-Mikael: Event Chair
Tony Lala: Vice Chair
Keith Conklin: Vice Chair
FRIDAY:
Neil Savoy: Event Chair
Brent Meche: Vice Chair
SATURDAY:
Arthur Roger: Event Co-Chair
Nick Nevares: Event Co-Chair
Michael Atwater: Logistics
Mickal Baldinger: Stage and Costume Contest
Diogo De Lima: Choreographer
SUNDAY:
Ryan Cochran: Event Chair
Renee Roland: Vice Chair
Kent Ozborn: Corporate and Patron Party
HOST COMMITTEE:
Jeff Schiffman: Chair
Zach Hunt: Vice Chair
Jon Sloan
Maryam Bahman
James Brownell Williams: Hotels
Toby Lefort: Bars
Seth Stringer: Distribution
Marthon Gimre: Medical
Steve Rivera: Project Lazarus Liaison
Letter from Project Lazarus
Hello and welcome to Halloween 29 in New Orleans,
On behalf of the residents, the board of advisors and the staff of Project Lazarus, let me thank you for being a part of Halloween 29! The funds that are raised during this 4-day event will go to support the vital work of Project Lazarus, the oldest residential facility providing assisted living to people with HIVAIDS in the Gulf Coast region.
In 1985, in the midst of the darkness of the early years of the AIDS epidemic, a group of clergy, friends and concerned individuals came together in an effort to help dispel some of the misery, some of the heartbreak that was first described as ‘gay related immune deficiency’ (GRID) and later came to be called HIV/AIDS. From this, Project Lazarus was established and 27 years later the agency continues to meet its core mission of providing supportive housing to homeless people living with HIV/AIDS. Halloween’s in New Orleans was also begun in those early days with the purpose of raising funds for Project Lazarus and is the most significant fundraising partner of the organization. For many years, Halloween’s has been the #1 annual donor to Project Lazarus, now having raised an astounding $4.5 million collectively, with last year’s $135,000 being the largest amount raised since Katrina. Governed by a completely volunteer Board of Directors, Halloween’s in New Orleans has become an annual event that draws revelers from all across the United States.
The gay community of New Orleans has stood by the side of Project Lazarus all these years as is evident through the support of the Halloween events. Words cannot properly express our gratitude as well as our indebtedness to the many men and women associated with Halloween’s who work so hard each year to raise money for Project Lazarus. The specialized care that we provide at Lazarus would not be possible without the support of Halloween’s in New Orleans. Thank You!
As our tagline suggests, at Project Lazarus we are ‘living in the positive’. It is true that all of our residents are HIV positive, but being so is only one ‘positive’ aspect of their lives. While living with us, our residents learn to manage HIV/AIDS and face life through the many supportive services that we provide, such as home-cooked meals and personalized care provided in a loving and caring home-like environment. We are positive about the services we provide and positive about the ability of our residents to reclaim their health, their lives and their future. I invite you to learn more about us; come take a tour of our historic residential buildings and the beautiful grounds of Project Lazarus. Please come visit us and see what Halloween 29 in New Orleans is supporting. I am positive you will be impressed.
Thank you,
Kim A. Moss
Executive Director
Letter from The Trevor Project
The Trevor Project is excited to be a part of Halloween 29! Just like some of you, this is our first year being a part of this one-of-a-kind celebration. For those of you who are returning, thank you for letting Trevor be a part of history!
The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) young people. In 1998, the creators of the Academy Award®-winning short film TREVOR, made a choice to use their film to spread a message of acceptance and of help. On the first night their coming-of-age story aired on television, these visionary filmmakers launched the first national crisis intervention and suicide prevention lifeline for LGBTQ youth, the Trevor Lifeline. Since then, hundreds of thousands of young
people in crisis have reached out to The Trevor Project’s life-saving, life-affirming resources.
In addition to the Trevor Lifeline, The Trevor Project offers unique suicide prevention services to youth in digital spaces, including counseling via instant message through TrevorChat and the largest online social network specifically for young LGBTQ people, TrevorSpace. Other programs include Ask Trevor, a forum for youth to ask questions and receive responses from trained volunteers, and a suite of education programs including Trevor Lifeguard, CARE, and Ally Workshops.
Recognized as a national leader, Trevor has played a key role as an appointee of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, and has been a leading crisis resource for anti-bullying initiatives, including StopBullying.gov. Honored by the White House as a “Champion of Change,” The Trevor Project is a leader and innovator in suicide prevention.
At Halloween 29, you will put on a mask or costume, something you have worked for months imagining and creating. For the LGBTQ young people that turn to Trevor, the mask they wear is a burden. The Trevor Project strives to help youth live a fulfilled life celebrating their identity. Thank you for your support this year through Halloween 29.
For more information about The Trevor Project and to get involved, visit TheTrevorProject.org.
Thank you!
Abbe Land,
Executive Director & CEO
