First of all, what a great event this past Saturday! Our annual President’s Open House was attended by 350 families, and I was thrilled with the support we received from the Loyola community–faculty, staff, students, everybody pitched in to welcome guests and offer a three dimensional view of what Loyola is all about. It was awesome. Also, we were honored to have so many families make the trip. So, if you were in that number-of hosts and guests-THANK YOU!

On Sunday, we had a great time at the WLAE tuition auction and we’ve received some great feedback from the video we produced with them. So, here it is again. Isn’t Loyola beautiful?

Also on Sunday we sent an email out to a series of prospective students. I think the message resonates with all of us who care about Loyola and New Orleans; we want to see both of them thrive. So, here it is:

Greetings from New Orleans, a unique American city!

For years, New Orleans’ uniqueness was fashioned from its outstanding food, its unparalleled music scene, its ability to preserve history, and its infectious enthusiasm for a good time.

These days, New Orleans remains unique for all of those things, but you can add to that list its economy, its energy, and its opportunities.

And our students are reaping the benefits. Every state in the U.S. saw its unemployment rise last month, except for one, Louisiana. Our unemployment rate remains well below the national average, and New Orleans is a growth area, where entrepreneurship, construction funding, and business investment are beginning to soar. Our students have had a hand in rebuilding parts of New Orleans by working with amazing non-profits like The St. Bernard Project, which is run by Liz McCartney who was recently named CNN Hero of the Year. Liz regularly works with Loyola students, through programs like LUCAP, and just hired one to her team! She also spoke at our Peace Conference last week.

Our commitment to New Orleans, its people, and its future can be made stronger with your contribution. And, as it turns out, so can you!

Be a part of this exciting time.