Doors at 2:30 PM
Music
Food
Drinks
Patron party with John Boutte
Featuring
Sweet Crude
Sally Baby’s Silver Dollars • James Andrews & The Crescent City Allstars • Margie Perez & Muévelo • Bogue Chitto • School Of Rock • Davis Rogan • Ben Maygarden Duo • Ben Brown & Eliot Guerin • Eternal East Lion Dance Team
Special appearance by
Carl Lacoste And the Franklin Student Jazz Ensemble
Expand Transcript
Cedric Richmond ’91 – 2025 Alumnus of the Year, speaking at Bennaroo.
RICHMOND: What I want is for Ben Franklin to be an exceptional school, nurturing brilliant minds. And the more capacity and the more resources you have, the more kids we can nurture.
[fun, festive music playing in the background]
Images of text and illustrated graphics are interspersed with images and video clips of stage performers, student band members, children dancing, families and volunteers working at merch tables, and a fun vibe.
66 Musicians
18 Guitars
21 Horns
Three Stages
1,300+ attendees
Over $110K Raised
Students, parents, alumni, faculty, staff, volunteers
One Franklin
RICHMOND: The more the better.
Sunday, November 8, 2026.
[logo] Bennaroo – A music fest benefiting Ben Franklin High School
Email bennaroo@bfhsla.org for more info and sponsorship opportunities.
Bennaroo returns for its second year, bringing together more than 1,300 alumni, families, and friends for a celebration of music and community.
Proceeds support Franklin’s music program and student travel fund, helping provide instruments, performance opportunities, competitions, and global learning experiences. With a $150,000 fundraising goal, Bennaroo is an opportunity to celebrate Franklin while investing in our students’ futures.
With a $150,000 fundraising goal, Bennaroo is an opportunity to celebrate Franklin while investing in our students’ futures.
Thank You!
Our Generous 2026 Sponsors
Patron Saints of the Party
$15,000
(Can you see yourself here? Become a sponsor.)
The Producers
$10,000
BFHS Alumni Association
Class of 2029 Parent
Art & Soul Stewards
$5,000
First Horizon Bank
Gia Maione Prima Foundation, Inc
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation, Inc.
Preservation Hall
Pure Dermatology
The Paparazzi
$2,500
EskewDumezRipple
Angela & Lee Henderson
Jenny Juge Kottler ’79 & Bob Kottler
Laura & Bill Plunkett
Heidi & Danny Raines
Symmetry Jewelers & Designers
Walter Isaacson Foundation
The Headliners
$1,000
Anonymous Donor
Carol Pelton & Marco Balducci
Darren Carmon ’00
Julie & Leron Finger
The Jarrell Family
Jamie Kuo
Edward Scheinuk ’76
The Soll Family
Waverly Advisors
Groove Makers
$500
Virginia Boulet & Alvin R. Albe, Jr.
Krystal Allen
Thomas Buck ’75
Kyle Cash Widmer ’98 & Michael Cash
Ginger Ellis-Clark ’83 & Scarth Clark ’83
The Cot Family
Crawford Crews
Forstall Interiorscapes/Christopher Forstall
The Historic New Orleans Collection
Klara & Daniel Hammer ’96
Jamie A. Hughes
Jill Condon & Kenneth Humphreys ’87
Lynn Jenkins
Jostens
James Lazenby
Lynn & Drew Marsh
James Person ’82
Marcelle Rousseau
Tina Shariff
Bennaroo Boosters
$250
Eva Alito
Scott Aertker & Jennifer Boone (3)
Kathryn Gsell & Erik Arnold ’88
Dawn & Dax Bordenave
Richard Chen
Amanda Chustz (Uptown Frames)
Sacha Borenstein Clay ’81 & Roy Clay ’75
Melissa & William Dalton
Jim Dennard ’99 & Christy McMannen
Mary Dwyer ’85
Executone Systems Co of LA Inc.
Celeste Lay & Christopher Fettweis
Davida Finger & Joshua Lightman
Diane Dougall Freedman ’96 & Aaron Freedman ’96
Leah Collums Glade ’97 & Darryl Glade ’96
Julie Talavera & Jose Gonzalez
Jamie Cromer Grue ’85 & Ian Grue
Marta Machio & Ben Hamawy
Kathy & Steven Hattier
Terry Hauver ’92 & Wendi Sweetland
Ellen Hazeur & Ernest Colbert Jr.
Lisa & Robert Hoover
Lekha Hota (3)
Lisa Amato Janowsky ’85 & Bill Janowsky ’85
Katherine Klimitas ’07
Amy Vaughn & Ross Klingsberg
Thomas Lasher
Alison & Herman LeBeaux
Elizabeth Lehmann ’74
Dawn Lyons & Carlos Sosa
The Maygarden Family
Diana & Scott McDermott
Lisa & Steve McPherson
Ralph Melian
Crystal Mitchell ’85
Nancy & John Parauka
Tien Pham ’89 & Son Pham
Lisa & Peter Plaia
Clifton Prince ’83
Christy Cowart Read ’89 & Beau Read
Kim & Josh Reyher
Jennifer Samuels
Julie & Kyle Sclafani
Erica Seemann ’88
Janet Barnwell Smith ’85 & Guerry Smith
Ellie Streiffer ’03 & Ben Horwitz
Danielle & Richard Sutton
Valerie & John Vollman
Christie & Randy Weidemann
Stacey & Henry Welch
Rachel & Will Williams
The Roadies
$125
Jay Lanners ’79
Gina Monette ’85
Teresa Rondinelli
Virginia Saussy ’84
Mazie Bertucci Stewart
In-Kind Sponsorships
Anonymous Donor
Heather & Matt Allan
Donovan Transportation
Gambit
New Orleans Magazine
Smoke Street Catering
Urban South Brewery
