In February 2010 AMIkids Donaldsonville Board of Directors hosted its Inaugural “Krewe of AMIkids Mardi Gras Gala” fundraising event. The event spread the joy of Mardi Gras to 55 sister programs in eight states by hosting an umbrella decorating contest. Students from the sister programs decorated umbrellas and sent them to Donaldsonville to be auctioned off at a silent auction of which the proceeds went to the AMIkids, Inc. Haiti Relief Fund.

The Mardi Gras umbrella decorated by the students of AMIkids Donaldsonville was used in the opening ceremony for the U.S. Youth Soccer Tournament held at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center at LSU. Thousands of soccer players between the ages of 13 and 19 stood up to catch the beads and dance to the Mardi Gras music performed by Board Vice Chairman Michael Foster along with the Michael Foster Project. The grand marshall of the event, along with Mayor Kip Holden, danced the second line with the AMIkids Donaldsonville umbrella.

“It was an honor and a privilege for our Uumbrella to be used in such a prestigious event in Baton Rouge” said Rosetta Brown, science teacher and staff advisor for the umbrella decorating contest.

AMIkids Donaldsonville is one of eight day – treatment programs in Louisiana designed to rehabilitate adjudicated elementary, middle and high school students. Offering academic instruction, experiential education, counseling, mentoring, goal setting and attempts to increase self-esteem through responsibility and accountability, the overall goal is to provide an opportunity for students who are academically behind in school, and have behavioral issues. Teaming up with the Louisiana Office of Juvenile Justice, the Louisiana Department of Education and Ascension, Assumption and St. James parish school boards to rehabilitate and better educate the students.

For more information about the event please contact Tamiko Francis Garrison, executive director at 225-474-8820.