2025 New Orleans Proudly Pro-Life Gala
Saturday January 18
Patron Reception: 6:00 PM | Dinner: 7:00 PM
New Orleans Convention Center Great Hall
850 Convention Center Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70130
Enter at the Corner of Julia St. & Convention Center Blvd (caddy-corner from Mulate’s)
Patron Party Sponsor: Cedar Grove Senior Health Solutions
The security of our guests is our TOP priority. We will have officers present before, during, and after the Gala stationed outside of the Convention Center and inside the Convention Center Great Hall. If you have any questions or concerns regarding security, please contact us.
Upon your reservation, you will receive a confirmation email and letter from Louisiana Right to Life reflecting your reservation! At event check-in, simply provide the name of the reservation and a volunteer will assist you!
If you do not plan to fill your entire table or use your tickets, please contact gala@prolifelouisiana.org ASAP! We can assist you in filling them with guests who are interested in attending.
If you or a guest have any dietary restrictions, please email those to gala@prolifelouisiana.org by Friday, January 3rd to be guaranteed a meal. Otherwise, we will do our best to fulfill your request, but can not guarantee a meal.
Each table at the Gala has 10 seats. If you reserve a table or tables as a Life Patron or higher, you have one or more reserved tables.
If you are purchasing individual tickets and would like to sit at the same table as someone else who purchased individual tickets, please indicate their name and your request in the "comments" section online when making your reservation. We will do our best to fulfill your requests.
At check-in, your guests can check in under the name entered at registration. We do not require a guest list be provided to us, but you're more than welcome to do so by emailing gala@prolifelouisiana.org.
The Patron Party will start at 6pm, and the Gala Program starts promptly at 7pm. The Gala will end around 9:15 pm, with the after party concluding at 11pm.
The attire for the evening is Black-Tie Optional.
If you have any questions, please contact TJ Burgess, Director of Events, at gala@prolifelouisiana.org or 504.754.8872!
1/17/25: ALL BUSES ARE SOLD OUT!
We are pleased to be offering, thanks to Gray Line New Orleans, regional bus transportation to & from the Gala. Due to possible traffic downtown on the night of our event, we encourage you to utilize the Gala Bus options to get to & from the event!
Seating is limited! The buses will load on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Hammer Family
Kenta and Shawn Paretti
Whitman Family Foundation
Cedar Grove Senior Health Solutions
Troy and Tracy Duhon, Giving Hope NOLA
Kenneth and Kate Wood
A Friend for Life
Matt and Julie Ungarino
Mr. and Mrs. Brian T. Almon
Stephen and Shannon Austin
Mark and Anne Beebe
John and Deborah Blancher
Ralph and Linda Capitelli
Dan and Celie Clark
Dr. Joseph and Kay Crapanzano
The Claudia Abramowicz and Family Fund
Edward L. Rispone Family Foundation
Rev. Ed Grice
Karl and Laura Huber
Jessica Jambon, Realtor, Dr. Angela Parise, and Shannon Simons, DDS
Deacon Gary and Claudia Levy
Dr. Sherri Longo
Hunter Lundy
Deacon Carlo and and Debbie Maniglia
David and Mary Beth Mettz
Mark and Sharon Rodi
Salutare Deum Foundation
Matthew and Melissa Wender
Rod and Linda Abele
Jackie Appleton
Mary Jane W. Becker
Robert and Lauren Clark
Community Center for Life
Fr. Gary Copping
Steve and Diane Cory
The Cvitanovich Family
The Daigle and Scotton Family
The Garvey Family
Joal Kuebel
Louisiana State Council Knights of Columbus
Tom and Margaret Murphy
Mrs. Paul A. Nalty
Notre Dame Seminary
Jim and Stacy Pellerin
Stan and Judy Salathe
St. Francis Xavier Church
Anthony and Isabel Schneller
The Solomon Family
Ann and Gordon Stevens
Frank and Linda Sunseri
Tony Pastor
Dr. Robert and Judy Quinilty
Joe and Claire Bennett
State Representatives Stephanie Berault, Jacob Braud, Kim Carver, Kim Coates, Brian Glorioso, Shane Mack, and John Wyble
BJN Foundation
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy
Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans
Jack and Anne Dardis
Ms. Deidra Edwards
Fremin and Winn Family
A Friend of Life
Friends of LA Right to Life
State Representative Jay Galle
James and Kelly Gros
State Sen. Cameron Henry
Mark and Paula Jeansonne
U.S. Senator John Kennedy
Lakeshore Church
Governor Jeff and First Lady Sharon Landry
Secretary of State Nancy Landry
Dr. and Mrs. F. King McGoey
Attorney General Liz Murrill
Christopher and Kate Price
St. Catherine of Siena Church
St. Clement of Rome Church
St. Tammany Right to Life
State Senator Kirk Talbot and State Representatives Emily Chenevert, Dixon McMakin,
Polly Thomas, and Debbie Villio
Dr. Rachel and Louis Treuting
Peter and Marilyn Quirk
Willwoods Community
Rev. Robert Cavalier
Sal and Theresa Ciolino
St. Tammany Parish President Mike and Catherine Cooper
Guy and Pamela Cresson
Burt and Allison Daigle
Louis and Brenda Frey
Susan Glennon
Carlton and Carlys Guillot
Jo-Ann Testa and Jim Hebert
Dr. Michael and Patricia Helm
Colleen S. Ingraffia
Judith M. Legett
Roger Allen Madison
Zella May
State Sen. Beth Mizell
William and Lucy O'Regan
Gregg and Julie Paretti
Joe Rush
Peter and Kathie Schaumber
Dr. Michael and Donna Sprague
Tangie Stephens, Team Tangie Realtors
Woman's New Life Clinic
Stephen and Shannon Austin
Kathleen Benfield
John and Deborah Blancher
TJ Burgess
Ralph and Linda Capitelli
Benjamin and Kristen Clapper
Daniel and Celie Clark
Jerry and Barbara Christopher, Jr.
Kurt and Susan Crosby
Jack and Anne Dardis
Jeff and Leigh Director
Troy and Tracy Duhon
Carlton and Carlys Guillot
Mike and Dana Hammer
Kacie Hoerner
Karl and Laura Huber
Colleen Ingraffia
Billy and Jessica Jambon
Peg Kenny
Dr. Joey and Gwen Lacoste
Judy Legett
Dr. King and Karen McGoey
Bob and June Menard
Jane Nalty
Shawn and Kenta Paretti
Dr. Angela Parise and Mr. Steven Arthur
Robert and Judy Quinilty
Mark and Sharon Rodi
Anthony and Isabel Schneller
Matthew and Melissa Wender
Dr. Shannon Simons
Archbishop Gregory Aymond
Archbishop Gregory Michael Aymond now serves as the 14th Archbishop of New Orleans. Archbishop Aymond holds the unique distinction of being the first New Orleans native to serve as Archbishop of New Orleans in the 216-year history of the local church.
Archbishop Aymond was born in New Orleans on November 12, 1949. After attending St. James Major Elementary School and Cor Jesu High School, in the Gentilly neighborhood, he went to St. Joseph Seminary College in St. Benedict, La. and graduated in 1971. He earned a master's degree in divinity from Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans in 1975 and was ordained as a priest of the New Orleans Archdiocese the same year.
From 1973 to 1981, he was a professor, business administrator and then Rector of St. John Vianney Preparatory Seminary in New Orleans. From 1981 to 1986, he was professor of pastoral theology and homiletics and Director of Education at Notre Dame Seminary.
The archbishop served as President-Rector of Notre Dame Seminary from 1986 until the end of the 1999-2000 academic year, longer than any rector in the seminary's history. He also was a member of the seminary faculty for 18 years. During his tenure, Notre Dame Seminary grew to become the third-largest seminary in the country. Archbishop Aymond was ordained an Auxiliary Bishop of New Orleans in 1997.
Archbishop Aymond also served as the executive director of the archdiocesan Department of Christian Formation, with responsibility for Catholic schools and religious education, and as the Archdiocesan Director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith.
He has made mission work a strong emphasis of his ministry. In the 1980s, Archbishop Aymond and groups of seminarians from Notre Dame Seminary began to visit Sotuto, Mexico, where they built housing and offered religious training.
In 1994, he began a medical mission program in Nicaragua called 'Christ the Healer,' taking volunteer teams of health care professionals to the town of Granada to offer medical help at San Juan de Dios Hospital.
Archbishop Aymond was named Bishop of Austin in 2000. Under his tenure, the Diocese of Austin experienced unprecedented expansion, including a threefold increase in the number of seminarians. He established the Institute for Spiritual Direction, opened San Juan Diego Catholic High School for students from low-income families, opened St. Dominic Savio Catholic High School and initiated a distance learning program with St. Mary's University in San Antonio that allows lay people in the Austin Diocese to obtain master's degrees in theology.
Archbishop Aymond has served as chairman of the U.S. Bishops' Committee on the Protection of Children and Young People. He also was chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Catholic Educational Association from 2000-04.
Archbishop Aymond was installed as Archbishop of New Orleans on August 20, 2009.
A message from the Honorary Chair of the New Orleans Proudly Pro-Life Gala:
“Louisiana Right to Life has been instrumental in protecting unborn babies from abortion and being a voice for the voiceless. I am honored to be the Chair of the Proudly Pro-Life Gala and build support for the pro-life cause!”
Benjamin Clapper has committed his life to speaking for those who cannot speak for themselves. His expertise in the pro-life movement ranges from the political and legislative realm to youth education and activism.
Benjamin serves as the Executive Director of Louisiana Right to Life. Louisiana Right to Life, established in 1970, works through education, activism, public policy, and service to preserve the right to life in Louisiana. During his years with Louisiana Right to Life, Benjamin has helped grow Louisiana Right to Life into a organization making an impact for life from the State Capitol to high school classrooms across the state. During his time working to advance pro-life legislation, Louisiana has been at or near the top of the list of most pro-life states in the nation.
In addition to Louisiana Right to Life, Benjamin serves the national pro-life movement in a number of capacities. Through his work with the National Right to Life Victory Fund, Benjamin has worked on the political side to elect pro-life leaders to office. He also helped start pro-life youth training programs in many states through the “Life and Leadership Youth Camp Initiative.”
Benjamin is also the Executive Producer of the award-winning short adoption documentary film I Lived on Parker Avenue which has since been turned into an internal feature-film, Lifemark, that has been viewed by millions across the globe.
Benjamin’s dedication to the pro-life movement began in late high school in his hometown of Mobile, AL, but was stregthened in college as he actively worked with Students for Life of America and went on to found Louisiana Students for Life. In 2013, Benjamin was honored to receive a top award from SFLA.
Benjamin graduated from Loyola University New Orleans in 2007 as the Ignatian Award winner for Outstanding Male Graduate. At Loyola, he was blessed to meet his future wife, Kristen, through their collaboration on pro-life activities. Kristen and Benjamin reside in Mandeville with their four beautiful daughters: Kate, Mary Rose, Julia, and Claire.
Mike Hammer is fortunate to present the 2025 Robert E. Winn Proudly Pro-Life Award to Troy and Tracy Duhon.
Mike Hammer is a long-time friend, advisor, and supporter to Louisiana Right to Life. Mike is the principal of Pontchartrain Capital, LLC and has been instrumental in many community non-profits, including Bridge House, Hotel Hope, Urban Impact, and the Harry Tompson Center. Mike's wife, Dana Hammer, serves on the Board of Directors of Louisiana Right to Life
Aussie-American Nick Vujicic was born in 1982, to the shock of his parents and doctors; without limbs. There was no medical conclusion as to why he was born this way, but in spite of his physical limitations, his courage and tenacity for life have caused him to become one of the biggest motivational speakers in the world, known as an expert on resilience and reframing challenges.
As a teenager Nick began trading stocks and options, and bought his first real estate investment at age 19. At 21 he graduated from college in Australia with a double major in accounting and financial planning.
Nick has traveled to 81 countries, presenting on 3500 stages, to crowds as large as 800,000 people. He works with education ministries of various nations, live streaming his anti-bullying messaging to youth, and also developed the Attitude Is Altitude Curriculum, helping to enforce values and positive attitudes for Gen Z.
Meeting 25 Presidents, Prime Ministers, and Vice Presidents and at the same time addressing rescued human trafficked victims and orphans, Nick has a message of hope for everyone.
Nick married his beautiful wife in early 2012 and they have four children; two boys, and twin girls. They moved from Southern California to Dallas, Texas in mid 2020, where they currently reside today.
Nick has a mission and mandate to change the world for the better - one person at a time; using his life and example as a testimony of hope, helping people to find their value and purpose, and also encouraging them to partner together, with generosity and love, to be the change - one day at a time, using the tools they have been given.
Louisiana Right to Life is proud to be honoring the work of Troy and Tracy Duhon and their organization Giving Hope NOLA with our 2025 Robert E. Winn New Orleans Proudly Pro-Life Award!
Troy and Tracy Duhon suffered incredible loss when two of their children passed away at birth in 2004 and 2006 to Potter Syndrome. In the midst of that, Hurricane Katrina devastated their business.
They could have responded to the suffering by turning inward and dwelling on it. Instead, choosing to place their hope in God, they responded by loving their neighbors as themselves, providing food, clothing, shelter, fellowship, and other resources to families in need. To do this, they founded the non-profit Giving Hope NOLA. Their food ministry has distributed over 7.7 million pounds of food and over $280,000 in value of clothes and household items to those in need.
The Duhons’ call to children and families was fueled by their personal loss, and was enhanced with Annahstasia, their adopted daughter from China. When they witnessed Anna’s living conditions and discovered the number of families unable to adopt due to lack of funding, the couple committed to supporting children and families through two Giving Hope programs: Hope for a Home and Hope House.
- Through Hope for a Home, they provide financial and emotional support to families undertaking the adoption process. Since its inception, the program has helped 20 families adopt children in need of a “forever family.”
- Through Hope House, they work with international ministries and nonprofits to fund and build orphanages and family-serving facilities around the world. As of 2024, the program has established orphanages, homes for abandoned babies, schools, adoption facilities, and family centers in India, Honduras, Gambia, and more.
The Duhons have also made an impact in sharing the pro-life message across the nation, including through its role in the 2019 film “Roe v. Wade” and supporting the Lifemark film.
After receiving two terminal prenatal diagnosis, around the time of Hurricane Katrina, the Duhons were compelled to start Giving Hope. Giving Hope leads orphanages in disadvantaged countries across the globe, feeds the homeless, assists families undertaking the adoption process, and so much more.
Sandra Pate is known as an anointed intercessor. Every weekday at noon and on Sunday mornings she consistently leads others to a more intimate relationship with God in prayer. She oversees “Women Who Lead Through Prayer” every Saturday morning and is the Prayer Director of Thursday morning prayer for Christian Women in the Media Association, an international organization, where she also serves on the Advisory Board and the Membership Committee.
Highlights of her life include traveling the world as an international fashion model; working on hundreds of episodes of prime-time television programming for Fox Broadcasting Company in Los Angeles; and serving full-time in ministry for twenty two years alongside of her husband, Bishop Dwight Pate, the Founder and Senior Pastor of Church Point Ministries in Baton Rouge.
Having just acquired a 5-acre campus in the inner city, their vision is to use the arts and media to build a training center to equip the next generation to evangelize the world with the gospel of JESUS CHRIST.
Sandra is also a contributing author to “The Invitation to Intimacy with God Devotional Book” (Thomas Nelson) and is featured in “Skin Deep: Inside the World of Black Fashion Models” (Amistad Press) and “Doing It for Ourselves: Success Stories of African-American Women in Business” (Berkeley Books). Plus, she just made her acting debut in a feature film set for release in 2020.
Her favorite scripture is Philippians 4:8. She lives to see prayers answered for others and has witnessed countless amazing miracles in the lives of GOD’S people. It is the spiritual gift of faith in her that allows her to boldly approach GOD’S throne of grace with a trust and confidence in HIM that inspires in others the kind of faith that moves mountains in the name of JESUS.
Join us for the After Party directly after the conclusion of the Gala featuring live music and dancing with Dat Band!
1999 - His Excellency, Francis B. Schulte
2000 - Lawrence D. Garvey
2001 - His Excellency, Philip M. Hannan
2002 - Robert E. Winn, Esquire
2003 - Kathleen Nee Benfield
2004 - John & Pam Richard and Pastor Bill Shanks
2005 - Sharon Ryan Rodi, Esq.
2007 - Raymond F. Gassar, M.S., Ph.D.
2008 - W. Al Krotoski, M.D., Ph.D., MPH
2009 - Judith Legett Martin and Karen Perrier McGoey
2010 - Dorinda Chiappetta Bordlee
2011 - Peg Kenny
2012 - ACCESS & Woman’s New Life Center
2013 - His Excellency, Alfred C. Hughes
2014 - Cindy Collins
2015 - His Excellency, Gregory M. Aymond
2016 - John Hauler and LA Knights of Columbus
2017 - Honorable & Mrs. David Vitter
2018 - John Smestad
2019 - David, Susan, & Jimmy Scotton and Roy & Gail Daigle
2020 - Congressman Steve Scalise
2021 - Benjamin and Kirsten Watson
2022 - Senator Katrina Jackson
2023 - Bobbie Jones & all Pro-Life Sidewalk Advocates
2024 - Lise Naccari of CBIB & Don Sampey of All God's Babies
