In true New Orleans fashion, several local organizations and over a dozen of our city’s finest local musicians will come together on Thursday, May 23 at Tipitina’s to raise funds for the needs of the 19 victims of the tragic Mother’s Day shooting at the Original Big 7 second line (which has re-scheduled their parade for June 1). If there’s one thing New Orleanians do when it comes to protecting our city and preserving our sacred culture, it’s sticking together.

The 19 Fund Co-Chair, Donald Harrison Jr. headlines May 23 benefit concert.

Donald Harrison Jr. & the Congo Square Nation Mardi Gras Indians will lead the benefit concert’s all-star line-up featuring the Hot 8 Brass Band, the Stooges Brass Band, Bonerama, The Revivalists, The New Orleans Suspects and more. The event will be hosted by the legendary Fats Domino, Wendell Pierce and Harrison Jr. himself.

The Tipitina’s Foundation has joined forces with the Foundation for Entertainment, Development & Education, United Way of Southeast Louisiana and Silence is Violence (who also partnered with New Orleans bounce artists like Big Freedia, Katey Red, Sissy Nobby and DJ Rusty Lazer to create the Schoolhouse Bounce profanity-free youth program this year) to create The 19 Fund. This new non-profit entity will recruit and distribute donations for those hurt as a result of the May 12 to help them off-set costs such as medical care and professional therapy. In a place like New Orleans where a large percentage of residents are artists, service industry workers or independent contractors without health insurance, this is of dire need.

The 19 Fund Benefit Concert is Thursday, May 23 at Tipitina's

The newly formed 19 Fund states that its mission is to “help victims of violent crime heal physically, financially and emotionally” and has established its primary criteria for applicant support. These criteria include:

• Crime-related expenses incurred by a victim or victim-survivor of violent crime in the Greater New Orleans Area.
• Qualifying expenses shall be reimbursed, based on formal needs assessments and the individual circumstances of each victim.
• All assessments and case management shall take place on the basis of strict confidentiality.

In addition, the 19 Fund shall provide advocacy and assistance in seeking additional financial and logistical assistance on behalf of victims and victim families. The 19 Fund also promises that it will present fund accountability through a quarterly report on victim services rendered, to be publicly available and provided directly to all supporters of the fund. Records shall be independently audited annually.

One hundred percent of both the admission proceeds and the bar sales on May 23 will be donated directly to the 19 Fund. Abita Beer and Glazers Liquor are also sponsoring the concert by providing bar stock.

MORE: Get details on the Blood Drive for the 19 victims hosted by the New Orleans Musicians Clinic (NOMAF) and OffBeat Magazine plus more and sign-up to donate here.