River Festivals Foundation, Inc.

River Festivals Foundation, Inc. was organized in 2009 to preserve, protect and promote the cultural contributions of early jazz musicians in New Orleans, particularly those who live and/or worked in Old Algiers. Specifically, the organization, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, has the following purposes:

(1) to present and maintain the annual Old Algiers RiverFest™, a celebration of the cultural contributions of Old Algiers, and its ancillary educational programming for the benefit of fostering a more thorough appreciation for, while broadening the understanding of, Old Algiers' indigenous music, culture, visual arts and significant landmarks; and

(2) to hold meetings, seminars and other activities for the instruction of the public that educate and support an improved understanding and appreciation of Algiers' history, culture and celebrated contributions to early jazz; and

(3) to take remedial actions to eliminate economic, social and cultural deterioration of historic Old Algiers by promoting preservation through adaptive reuse of its landmark structures while contributing to community betterment and lessening the burdens on municipal government; and

(4) to aid, work with and parcicipate in activities of other organizations, individuals and public and private entities engaged in similar purposes.

The organization was an outgrowth of Old Algiers Main Street Corporation, which founded and presented the festival from 2004 through 2009. Under the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding, River Festivals Foundation, Inc. has agreed to provide an economic benefit to Old Algiers Main Street Corporation through the net proceeds, if any, from Old Algiers RiverFest™ for a period of three years.

The organization is led by a board of directors as follows:

Belinda Little-Wood, president
Beryl D. Ragas, vice president
Jessica Hack, secretary
David T. Giglio, treasurer

At-Large Members
Tyrone Casby Sr.
Stephen J. Engro
Joseph Jaeger
Hon. Edwin A. Lombard
Joyce Reed Mayfield
Valerie Robinson
Dr. Russell B. Van Dyke