Ninth Ward Field of Dreams Gets Extra Help From Downtown Watering Hole
Laila Morcos ABC26 News

September 23, 2010
NEW ORLEANS—
George Washington Carver's main campus in the Ninth Ward still looks like it did days after Katrina. Even though it's still devastated, it's a place of hope. Plus, it's getting a little financial boost.

George Washington Carver High School in the Ninth Ward looks like a nightmare. Mold and graffiti cover abandoned buildings. But just behind these buildings, students are in class and playing sports, trying to achieve their dreams. Soon, their field of dreams will be a reality. "It will be state of the art. It will be a turf football field, stadium seating. A whole lighting system and an Olympic-sized track," says Meg Brogan. She's with the Ninth Ward Field of Dreams, a $1.8 billion dollar proposed athletic facility on Carver's campus. The goal is to jump start redevelopment in the community, increase graduation rates and prevent crime and drug use. According to organizers, Carver athletes have higher GPA's than their non-athletic peers and have less behavioral write-ups and suspensions.

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The project is still $250 thousand dollars short, but they're getting help. "This is the PB&J burger. Sounds a little creepy, but it's a peanut butter spread." Robert LeBlanc is one of the owners of Capdeville, a downtown watering hole that serves up gourmet bar foods. He and his partners are donating part of their burger and beer sales from patrons watching Saints and LSU games to the Field of Dreams. "Kind of feel like our generation based in New Orleans is interested in doing more. And even if they hit their goal, we can get extra seats, extra equipment. There's always things they can use. It's very inspirational," he says.

Robert says he's walked Carver's campus and says any small move will positively impact the kids. And he is definitely committed. "Even if I have to eat 7500 burgers and have 7500 beers, we're going to get there," he says.

Capdeville is trying to raise at least $15 thousand dollars for Field of Dreams. The groundbreaking on the new school is about two weeks away.