Funds generated when several PDCA members opted to donate their registration reimbursements from the cancelled, live DICEP conference in September in New Orleans, are helping Louisiana families who endured significant loss during Hurricane Ida enjoy the holiday season. PDCA President Kevin Gourgues (pictured, left) delivered the check to the Iberville Parish Sheriff's Office Charity Fund, which has used the goodwill to expand the 'Shop with a Cop' initiative and ensure that children from needy families in the storm-torn area are able to receive Christmas cheer. Sheriff Brett Stassi (pictured, right) of Iberville Parish and current president of the Louisiana Sheriff's Association accepted the PDCA donation for the Charity Fund. He explained, "Needy families with young children are selected to participate in the 'Shop with a Cop' program; a needy child is given an allotment of funds, then paired with a deputy to shop at participating local vendors during closed store hours."
He continued; "The devastation I observed was catastrophic. Homes were destroyed or completely swept from their foundations and piling - often they were nowhere to be found. The need for help in these communities is very high."
President Gourgues extends his appreciation to the many PDCA members who chose to direct their DICEP registration funds to this important, relief effort. DICEP, an annual technical program of PDCA that was scheduled in 2021 to take place in New Orleans mere days following Ida's destruction in the region, was salvaged and delivered as a virtual seminar which negated the need for the registration monies necessary for the live event. And since many attendees had registered well in advance of the Hurricane and already paid to attend, they were given the option for a refund or to redirect the funds for this PDCA fundraising effort.
Full list of DICEP '21 registrants who sent registration funds to Hurricane Ida relief:
| AMERICAN SpiralWeld Pipe Company, LLC Beaty Construction Braun Intertec Cajun Industries, LLC Consolidated Pipe & Supply Co. Giken America Corp. GRL Engineers, Inc./Pile Dynamics, Inc. GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc. Hartman Engineering Herbert F. Darling, Inc. ICE - International Construction Equipment, Inc. Mason Construction, LLC |
Nagy Engineers, Inc. Nucor Skyline Pacific Pile & Marine Palmetto Pile Driving Patrick DiCerbo/Northwestern Mutual Patriot Construction & Industrial Premier Geotech and Testing, LLC Richard Goettle, Inc. S&ME, Inc. Samuel Roll Form Group |
