Not the trophies, not the money – how teacher Kati Jo Christensen’s story inspired Gayle Benson to quietly do what no one expected, changing the lives of hundreds of children in New Orleans.
Not the trophies, not the money – how teacher Kati Jo Christensen’s story inspired Gayle Benson to quietly do what no one expected, changing the lives of hundreds of children in New Orleans.
New Orleans, Louisiana – November 5, 2025
When a viral video showed Kati Jo Christensen, a special education teacher, paying off her students’ school lunch debt, few expected it would reach the heart of Gayle Benson – the owner of the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans, known across Louisiana for her compassion and quiet generosity.
After watching Christensen’s story, Benson said she “couldn’t sit still knowing children were feeling ashamed over something as simple as a meal.” Within days, she reached out to the Orleans Parish School Board, and through the Gayle Benson Foundation, she personally donated more than $50,000 to wipe out all outstanding lunch debt for nearly 400 students in New Orleans public schools.
“Children should never be defined by their circumstances,” Benson said, her voice soft with emotion. “They deserve to walk into school with a smile and a light heart — not with the weight of worrying about a meal. I watched New Orleans rise again after Hurricane Katrina, saw people here share every bit of hope they had just to keep going. And that compassion — not wealth or fame — has always been our city’s greatest strength.”
Her gesture quickly sparked a ripple effect. The New Orleans Saints and Pelicans matched her donation, adding another $250,000, while local businesses joined in, collectively helping erase more than $120,000 in school lunch debt across Louisiana. Soon after, Benson launched “Table of Hope” – a $1 million nutrition initiative dedicated to ensuring every child in the region has access to warm, nutritious meals every day.
“A warm meal can change an entire day for a child,” Benson said. “And if this simple act helps them feel loved and cared for, then that’s the greatest victory I could ever ask for.”
For Who Dat Nation, this wasn’t just charity — it was a reflection of who Gayle Benson truly is: strong, compassionate, and a reminder that real greatness isn’t measured in trophies, but in kindness.
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