Latter & Blum Inc. Realtors, the oldest and largest real estate and home services operation in the Gulf South, is teaming up with the New Orleans Police and Justice Foundation (NOPJF) and United Way of Southeast Louisiana (UWSELA) to address the two ends of the crime prevention spectrum: poverty eradication and neighborhood protection.
Latter & Blum, a long-time supporter of both organizations, announced for every $1.00 raised towards the purchase of a private security camera through NOPJF’s Adopt-A-Block program, they will donate $1.00 to support UWSELA health and human service programs in Orleans Parish up to $15,000.
“Our Community will never have enough resources to fix our crime problems unless and until we pay attention to both causation and enforcement. The presence of cameras has a great impact on prevention and the capture of perpetrators. While working on the social issues of creating economic opportunity via education and financial stability helps prevent the crime from happening in the first place. We support both ends of this continuum,” said Latter & Blum Inc. President Rick Haase.
An original $15,000 grant was secured by the New Orleans Metropolitan Association of Realtors from the National Association of Realtors. Latter & Blum's additional $15,000 match is intended to support the long-term efforts of crime prevention through United Way's unique role in our community by tackling poverty through Education, Health and Economic Opportunity.
"This investment in UWSELA will help fund one of the largest crime prevention systems in the region. UWSELA educates and empowers people to help lift them out of poverty – the root cause of many of our social problems," stated UWSELA President and CEO Michael Williamson. "Latter & Blum is dedicated to making our community a better place to live, work and raise our families."
UWSELA supported 65 programs in Orleans Parish that helped people more than 168,092 times last year alone.
United Way programs prepare children to be successful in school through early childhood development, mentoring
and character building programs that keep kids in class and off the streets; after-school programs provide youth development and the tools necessary for kids to graduate, to get and keep jobs, and have future careers.
Pictured: (left to right)
Bob Merrick - Owner &CEO, Latter & Blum, Inc.
Missy Whittington - CEO, New Orleans Metropolitan Association of Realtors
Rick Haase - President, Latter & Blum, Inc.
Melanie Talia - CEO, New Orleans Police & Justice Foundation
Michael Williamson - President & CEO, United Way of Southeast Louisiana
Kelli Walker - Senior Vice President - Government Relations, New Orleans Metropolitan Association of Realtors
Robert Brown - Chairman, New Orleans Police & Justice Foundation