Contacts: Mary Matthews / Aurelie Champvert
Alliance Française de La Nouvelle-Orléans
Phone: 504-568-0770
Email: marketing@af-neworleans.org
On Saturday, March 14, 2015, the Alliance Française de La Nouvelle-Orléans will host its 31st anniversary gala at the JW Marriott New Orleans, 614 Canal Street. The gala is one of many events throughout the year inviting the community to celebrate our French heritage in New Orleans. With a maritime theme, the festivities will highlight the connections between France and the United States, commemorating the SS France, an elegant steam ship dubbed "The Versailles of the Atlantic".
The evening will commence with a Champagne Patron Party at 6:30 pm in the Ile de France Ballroom foyer before guests enter the dining room, decorated by WINK Design & Events to recreate the scene of a traditional Captain's Dinner, where a specially prepared French menu by Chef René Bajeux will be served. The honorary Captain for the evening, The French Consul General in New Orleans, Grégor Trumel, will test guests' knowledge of French culture and history during the annual and back-by-popular-demand Trivia Competition. Following the live and silent auctions, Captain Trumel will lead the crew in Swing Dancing to the World War II Museum's Victory Six Band.
Over 200 guests are expected to enjoy this fabulous evening of music, auction, dinner, and dancing. Sponsorship opportunities range in price from $500 to $10,000. Tickets are available for purchase through March 14: $185 for patrons, $135 for non-members, $110 for members of the Alliance Française, and $75 for young professionals ages 21-35. Tickets on sale here. Cocktail or nautical attire is welcome.
2015 Gala Committee: Shauna Storey Grissett (auction chair), Jane Appfel, Givonna Joseph, Cissy Rowley, Norma E. Grace (board president), Jennie Westerman Diemont, Marianne Burns, Dessa Rutter GIffin, Katrina Greer, Terry Voorhies, Julia Walker, and Michael Harold
The Captain's Dinner aboard the SS France, Versailles of the Atlantic is made possible by deeply appreciated support our sponsors: The Greer Family, Air Liquide, Christine and Price LeBlanc, First NBC Bank, The Port of New Orleans, Norma Grace and Bob Sternhell, Dr. Michael Boucree and Ivan Griffin, Julia and Cedric Walker, Courtney-Anne Sarpy, Pamela and Philip Bonner, The Joe W. and Dorothy Dorsett Brown Foundation, Dr. and Mrs. Rand Voorhies, Deep Fried Advertising + Web Design, Anne and Herschel Abbott, Gail Catharine Bertuzzi, Tuleu Consulting Company, Dessa Rutter Giffin, Martin Wine Cellar, George and Sarah Young, and The Carole B. and Kenneth J. Boudreaux Foundation.
The Alliance Française of New Orleans (AFNO), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is New Orleans' leading French language and cultural center, dedicated to facilitating understanding between the people of Greater New Orleans and those of French speaking lands and to the appreciation and preservation of our unique French heritage in New Orleans, through quality education and community involvement. The New Orleans chapter of the Alliance Française belongs to a network of over 1,040 Alliance chapters worldwide.
The AFNO offers day, evening, and Saturday French classes taught by professionally-trained native-speaking teachers, as well as a variety of cultural and social events including lectures, film screenings, cooking classes, an annual photo contest and exhibit, and discussion groups. The AFNO also offers an in-house and online library with a selection of French films, books, magazines, and podcasts, in addition to its own monthly podcast available at af-radionola.org.