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A Funding Campaign

for the

Revitalization of Coconut Beach

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Fellow Spikeaholics:

Donations will be accepted during the weekend of The 8th Annual Denver Bonedigger Tourney (or by mail anytime) for “The Funding Campaign for Coconut Beach,” formerly a Sand Volleyball facility on the shores of Lake Ponchartrain that was devastated by Hurricane Katrina barely over a year ago. Over the years the complex had raised an estimated $1,000,000 for charities, not to mention the benefits to the city and the annual monies that went directly towards the New Orleans Recreation Department.

The Denver Bonedigger Poobahs have kindly allowed me to promote this cause during their event. I hope to inspire all participants and their friends to bring a donation in the form of checks made out directly to LOVA. Hopefully some contributions can be collected to fund the rebuilding of this facility, which was dear to many New Orleans Volleyball Players.

Even after a year, many New Orleans neighborhoods are still wretched ghost towns and remain exactly the same as when they were first hit by Katrina. The city is still struggling to recover, as well as boost the morale of its people. Stubbornly making sure that Mardi Gras (albeit a much smaller one) would still run in 2006 was a giant step. Hosting the first Saints Game in The Super Dome since the disaster was another step towards boosting the city’s spirit. I am certain many in our own local Volleyball Community would still also like to help in rebuilding New Orleans and boosting its people’s morale, and would support any organized collective effort supporting The Rebuilding of Coconut Beach, particularly regarding a sport that is extremely dear to themselves as well.

I started out playing volleyball there on what used to be a premium 17-court Sand facility on the West End of beautiful Lake Ponchartrain. You can only imagine the scene on a balmy Friday night, and the hundreds of people who would flock to the place to play and socialize afterwards. It is a severe loss for their local Volleyball Community; one I greatly empathize with, having been part of that Tribe myself.

Today, with only 6 courts and a makeshift bar amongst the remaining debris, right next to the repair efforts of the 17th Street Canal, it is a sad shadow of what it used to be. I am sure those athletes who miss the place dearly would be very grateful for any help from any of us here in our “own” Volleyball Community.

Please take a moment of your time to view the links below, and to browse the “Before” and “After” photos on this site. Then, on Friday at the Pre-Digger Party, or on the Tourney Sunday, please bring a check payable to LOVA to help raise funds for this cause. Or please send a check directly to the following address.

Louisiana Outdoor Volleyball Association

312 Marguerite Rd.

Metairie, LA 70003

Please encourage others who aren’t participating in The Denver Bonedigger to contribute to this worthy cause.

If you would like to donate to another cause to help the City of New Orleans rebuild, please follow the additional links below. Thanks for your help!

Keep Spikin’.

:: grace7 Leahey

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LINKS::

Rebuilding the Spirit – Creating the Opportunity

A Funding Campaign for the Revitalization of Coconut Beach

http://coconutbeachnola.com/PDFs/RebuildCoconutBeachCampaign.pdf