What unfolded in Baton Rouge was more than a holiday event, it was a reminder of how sustained, visible philanthropy can strengthen communities across Louisiana and the Gulf Coast, especially when leaders commit their time, resources, and influence to youth and families who need it most.<\/p>\n
As part of the visit, Mrs. Benson presented a charitable donation supporting a newly renovated locker room at the A.C. Lewis YMCA, a space that will serve more than 500 young athletes involved in youth sports programs at the facility. For Benson, investing in places like the YMCA represents a long-term commitment to the well-being of young people throughout the region.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe YMCA plays a vital role in shaping the lives of young people in the Baton Rouge community and beyond,\u201d Benson said. \u201cWhen you invest in places like this, you\u2019re investing in families, in health, and in the future of Louisiana.\u201d<\/p>\n
She emphasized that her Month of Giving is designed to reach communities across the state, not just one city or organization.<\/p>\n
\u201cI like to do things all over the state,\u201d Benson said. \u201cWe have people everywhere, and I want to include everybody. No matter where you live, what you give matters to someone.\u201d<\/p>\n
Alongside Benson, Graves continued Raising Cane\u2019s 6th annual Holiday Bike Giveaway, donating bikes and helmets to YMCA youth as part of a nationwide effort that has become one of the brand\u2019s most meaningful traditions. Inspired by his own childhood memory of receiving a bike for Christmas, the initiative has grown to impact thousands of families.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo matter what the amount, when you give something, it ripples in people\u2019s lives,\u201d Benson emphasized during the media availability. \u201cIt touches children, parents, and entire communities.\u201d<\/p>\n
This year alone, Raising Cane\u2019s is donating 4,500 bikes and helmets to nearly 30 youth organizations across the country, many of them located throughout Louisiana and the Gulf South- regions where access to safe recreation and transportation can make a real difference for children.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor me, it\u2019s about being grateful for the success we\u2019ve had and understanding the responsibility that comes with it,\u201d Graves said. \u201cWhat you can share with people is ultimately your purpose.\u201d<\/p>\n
Graves also spoke about how these efforts extend beyond one-day events and into shaping a culture of service across Louisiana.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe hope kids see these kinds of things and pick it up,\u201d he said. \u201cThat they pay it forward when they\u2019re older. Being kind is being kind, no matter the amount. Sometimes it\u2019s as simple as helping someone have a good day when they\u2019re not having one.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nPlayers come to me and ask, \u2018What can I do and how can I do this?\u2019 And I tell them it doesn\u2019t matter how much money you give. It just matters that you do something.<\/p>\n
Gayle Benson, owner of the New Orleans Saints and the New Orleans Pelicans<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
During the press conference, both leaders stressed the importance of leading by example, particularly within professional sports and major business organizations that have influence across the Gulf Coast. Benson noted that her approach to philanthropy has helped inspire Saints and Pelicans players to launch their own foundations and community initiatives.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt matters a great deal to me,\u201d Benson said. \u201cOur players come to me and ask, \u2018What can I do and how can I do this?\u2019 And I tell them it doesn\u2019t matter how much money you give. It just matters that you do something.\u201d<\/p>\n
Graves echoed that sentiment, pointing to Benson\u2019s impact on the broader sports community in Louisiana.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe example she sets is incredible,\u201d Graves said. \u201cYou see it from small projects to big commitments, and it inspires people \u2014 players, coaches, business leaders \u2014 to step up. It\u2019s a cultural thing here.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Off-Court Culture of Giving Back<\/p>\n
That culture, both said, is what helps sustain communities across the Gulf Coast long after the holidays pass. Benson described success not in wins or losses, but in the lives touched off the field.<\/p>\n
\u201cOff the field, success is how much you give, how you treat other people, and how active you are in the community,\u201d she said. \u201cAnybody can give money, but it\u2019s the time you spend and the people you help that truly matters.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/12-BR-Bikes.jpeg\")
(Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images for Raising Cane\u2019s ) Credit: (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images for Raising Cane’s )<\/p>\n
Graves spoke candidly about how business success has given him the opportunity to influence lives \u2014 from first-job experiences at Raising Cane\u2019s to partnerships like Wednesday\u2019s event.<\/p>\n
\u201cGod made me good at chicken fingers to help people,\u201d Graves said. \u201cThat\u2019s my purpose. With success comes responsibility \u2014 to lead well, to give back, and to make sure communities across this state are stronger because of it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The YMCA of the Capital Area, which serves eight locations and more than 15,700 individuals across Greater Baton Rouge, stands as one of those pillars of community support. Founded in 1917, the organization has supported generations of families through youth sports, wellness programs, and safe spaces for children \u2014 a mission that aligns directly with Benson\u2019s vision for the region.<\/p>\n
\u201cI believe it\u2019s important for adults and children to stay active and healthy,\u201d Benson said. \u201cWhen we support places like the YMCA, we\u2019re giving people opportunities to live better, longer lives.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/8-BR-Bikes.jpeg\")
(Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images for Raising Cane\u2019s )<\/p>\n
As Louisiana and the Gulf Coast continue to face economic and social challenges, both Benson and Graves emphasized that sustained giving \u2014 not just seasonal generosity \u2014 is what creates lasting change. It\u2019s change like this that we see echoed in cities across the south, especially in Sunny South Dallas. <\/p>\n
\u201cTaking the time matters,\u201d Graves said. \u201cPeople see it. Kids see it. Communities feel it. And that example carries on.\u201d<\/p>\n
In Baton Rouge, that message was clear: when leaders invest locally with a regional vision, the impact stretches far beyond one morning \u2014 strengthening families, inspiring future leaders, and reinforcing a culture of care across Louisiana and the Gulf South. Communities like ours are their strongest when in the culture of giving back. <\/p>\n
\n\tRelated<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Overview: Gayle Benson, owner of the New Orleans Saints and Governor of the New Orleans Pelicans, and Todd…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":457814,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5135],"tags":[5229,114736,8021,8022,8023,1596,8024,209459,209460,353,209461,3137,9004,50,256,209462,153274,209463,358,209464,3187,67,586,132,5230,68,2969,23951],"class_list":{"0":"post-457813","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-dallas","8":"tag-america","9":"tag-baton-rouge","10":"tag-black-media","11":"tag-black-news","12":"tag-black-press","13":"tag-dallas","14":"tag-dallas-weekly","15":"tag-gayle-benson","16":"tag-john-b-muns","17":"tag-louisiana","18":"tag-month-of-giving","19":"tag-new-orleans-pelicans","20":"tag-new-orleans-saints","21":"tag-news","22":"tag-philanthropy","23":"tag-plano-texas","24":"tag-raising-canes","25":"tag-sean-gardner-getty-images","26":"tag-texas","27":"tag-todd-graves","28":"tag-tx","29":"tag-united-states","30":"tag-united-states-of-america","31":"tag-unitedstates","32":"tag-unitedstatesofamerica","33":"tag-us","34":"tag-usa","35":"tag-ymca"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115746445506427799","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/457813","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=457813"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/457813\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/457814"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=457813"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=457813"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=457813"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/9-BR-Bikes.jpeg\")
BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA \u2013 DECEMBER 17: Raising Cane\u2019s Owner & Founder Todd Graves joins New Orleans Saints Owner Gayle Benson in Baton Rouge for Bike Donation to The YMCA Of The Capital Area on December 17, 2025 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images for Raising Cane\u2019s )<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1-BR-Bikes.jpeg\")
(Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images for Raising Cane\u2019s )<\/p>\n