By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – Nonprofit organizations in the River Parishes that provided services to those directly affected by the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico last year could be eligible to receive grant money through a fund set up to assist coastal communities.

The Greater New Orleans Foundation is hosting an information session in Norco on Monday to determine the eligibility of nonprofit organizations in St. Charles, St. John the Baptist, St. James and Assumption parishes for receipt of the grant money through the Coastal Communities Fund. The meeting will be held from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at La Maison Magnolia Reception Hall, 950 First St., Norco.

Marco Cocito-Monoc, director of regional initiatives with the GNO Foundation, said only organizations that have been declared 501c3 are eligible. He said the organizations must be those that deal with direct services focusing on mental health and wellness, social services and financial stability and youth resiliency.

“The anonymous donor who created the Coastal Communities Fund made a specific request that the fund go to help residents and organizations that played a part in helping the recovery from the oil spill,” Concito-Monoc said.

“This is the second of three sessions that have been spread out across southeast Louisiana,” he added.

The GNO Foundation serves a 13-parish region surrounding metro New Orleans. The group designs and leads initiatives that connect donors to community needs. Concito-Monoc said Monday’s information session will give the foundation some insight into the nonprofit landscape in the River Parishes.

“This will help us uncover new organizations while building relationships,” he said. “It gives us an idea of some of the capabilities of these organization.”

Concito-Monoc said the GNO Foundation is responsible for granting about $5 million of the $20 million that makes up the Coastal Communities Fund.

He said there is about $3 million still available for nonprofits in the River Parishes.

For more information about the session, contact the GNO Foundation at 504-598-4663.