WHO:  Husband and wife entrepreneurs Matt and Dione Theriault of Los Angeles, CA.

WHAT:  Matt and Dione established the Rebuild the Bayou foundation to restore the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans, Louisiana.  This initiative will renew the Lower Ninth Ward for its former residents, empower these residents to move back home and inspire the nation to participate in the effort.

WHERE:  Lower Ninth Ward – New Orleans, Louisiana

WHEN:  2008 until the Lower Ninth Ward is rebuilt – for its former residents.

WHY:  The Theriault’s have both been deeply affected by the stories and images associated with the destruction of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.  Since Hurricane Katrina hit, sufficient housing remains a dire need in South Louisiana.  Over 200,000 homes were destroyed by the category-five hurricane.  Demand for housing in the area steadily increases, making it substantially more difficult for South Louisiana’s displaced residents to transition from their temporary locations to quality permanent housing – which includes residences built with environmentally responsive materials.

The hurricanes of 2005 left an impact on the Gulf Coast that will be felt for years to come. Here is a glimpse, in numbers, of the devastation wrought by Katrina and Rita.

·         Katrina and Rita impacted the lives of 4.5 million Louisiana citizens.

·         As a result of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, more than 650,000 people were displaced from their homes.

·         More than 1,000 residents died as a result of the storms, more than 6,000 were reported missing and more than 3,000 were unaccounted for.

·         Across the Gulf Coast, Katrina alone destroyed 275,000 homes—ten times as many as the next most destructive storms to recently hit the U.S.

·         Across Louisiana, Katrina and Rita damaged and destroyed more than 250,000 homes and units.

·         More than 75,000 homes outside of the floodplain were destroyed in Louisiana.

·         As a result of both storms, 10 hospitals were forced to close in Louisiana.

·         Forty Louisiana schools were destroyed as a result of the storms, while more than 835 were damaged.

HOW:  The project will be funded by Matt and Dione’s business which markets Nouveau Riche - a company committed to creating real estate investors.  The intent of Rebuild the Bayou is to implement the adage, Give a man a fish, and you feed him for today.  Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.  Matt and Dione will begin by building or refurbishing one house.  The process will be documented and publicized in a way that the nation is touched, moved and inspired to follow suit.  Ideally, the Rebuild the Bayou Foundation will take on a life of its own and progress until the hurricane ravaged neighborhoods are 100% rebuilt and thriving.  Ultimately, this project will become a “blueprint” to rebuild all communities devastated by natural disasters. 

Matt and Dione are committed to fulfilling this intent using their “blueprint” system:

1.     Renewing the Lower Ninth Ward residences to reclaim their neighborhood through others' efforts.

2.     Empowering others to achieve financial literacy with an inimitable real estate investing education (i.e. Teach a man to fish…).

3.     Inspiring others to adopt the “blueprint” system and donate additional homes to Lower Ninth Ward families in need.

Matt and Dione will select the first recipient family of a new or newly remodeled house through an essay contest of which the students of Martin Luther King, Jr. Charter School for Science and Technology have participated.  The Theriault’s will hand the keys to the recipient family on Sep 30, 2008.

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