Sailing With a Purpose

Haiti and New Orleans have long been connected, but thanks to local efforts, those connections have deepened.

As a part of Mardi Gras Race Week, a springtime regatta sponsored by Gulf Coast Bank & Trust and hosted by New Orleans Yacht Club, sailors donate used sails and other boating supplies. Then, through the efforts of community member Jay Smith and the nonprofit Sails for Sustenance, those donations go to Haitian fishermen who need them most.

“The significance of the sails is huge,” said Smith. “If we can get a fisherman what he needs tomorrow, he can provide food that same day.”

– Guy Williams, President and CEO, Gulf Coast Bank & Trust