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A New Generation of Donors, Led By Damon Carraby
Celebrating one of Ochsner Health’s youngest donors, Damon Carraby, as the first five year member of the Alton Ochsner Society
By Olivia Watson | Photos: Daymon Gardner
Damon Carraby has always been a giver—he just didn’t know he could make a career out of it.
Born and raised in New Orleans, Damon’s unexpected path to fundraising began at home, with the wisdom of his grandmothers. “‘Pour into others what was poured into you’ was instilled in me from a young age,” Damon said. “Both my grandmothers were very intentional about encouraging us to give, whether that meant volunteering or donating.”
While giving was an important part of his upbringing, Damon never considered it his vocation. His grandmothers were educators, and he too was drawn to the classroom—specifically providing classroom management and interventions to students achieving below grade level.
His work at ReNEW Schools Charter Management Organization and later City Year revealed a recurring theme: Damon was a skilled leader and communicator. He had a knack for uplifting the people around him. “A mentor of mine asked me if I had ever considered philanthropy or fundraising,” he said. “They said I would be good at it—I truly fell right into it.”
Eager to pursue this new trajectory, Damon applied to Ochsner Health and landed a job as philanthropy and foundations coordinator. In the process, he fell in love with the organization and its deep commitment to the Gulf South community.
Aligning with the Alton Ochsner Society
Damon’s experience at Ochsner was the ideal entry point into the fundraising world. In this role, he became steeped in all facets of philanthropy, from prospect research and cultivation to stewardship and documentation.
“Working at Ochsner, I experienced firsthand the many moving parts that make this incredible organization operate smoothly,” he shared. “For me, it reinforced the importance of taking care of one another and safeguarding the health of our community.”
It also meant he became familiar with the story of Alton Ochsner, one of the five founding members of the hospital. Alton’s impact is best encapsulated in his empathetic catch phrase: “In this hospital,” he said, “the patients and the patient’s families come first.”
In 1982, the Alton Ochsner Society was established to pay tribute to Alton Ochsner and his “Patients First” focus. Alton Ochsner Society members pay annual membership dues that support the Excellence Fund, an unrestricted fund supporting initiatives that improve patient care. Any employee of Ochsner— from doctors and nurses to business professionals—can submit proposals to obtain financial support for innovative projects that will improve patient care and delivery.
This year, Damon became one of the youngest members of the Alton Ochsner Society and the first to make a five year membership pledge. His multi-year commitment guarantees his support for the Excellence Fund through 2027. His gift is a multi-year commitment, which he will contribute to annually.
“I loved Alton Ochsner’s story—it’s what drew me to join the Alton Ochsner Society and support the Excellence Fund,” Damon shared. “This fund touches on a milieu of different needs, it flows where it’s most needed.” This could mean helping a patient afford an Uber ride to and from their oncology appointment, pay for a meal or get access to medical equipment they need.
As a valued member of this society, Damon has opportunities to tour Ochsner facilities and have candid conversations with patients and staff about what exactly their needs are—and how those needs inevitably change.
Giving, in this sense, is about more than his financial contribution: it’s an emotional investment in the health and wellness of this community. “I hold Ochsner really near and dear to my heart,” he shared.
Empowering a new generation of donors
Damon's passion for community engagement and fundraising led him to an exciting opportunity as Director of National Corporate Partnerships at Teach for America. Today, he combines his experience in education and philanthropy to challenge educational inequities and inspire a new generation of changemakers.
"I get to marry two my biggest passions: fundraising and ultimately supporting communities I really care about,” he explained. “I want to show young Black and Brown boys that there are exciting career paths for them— you can make a sustainable lifestyle working in fundraising and giving back to your community.”
Damon encourages his friends and fellow young professionals to think creatively about opportunities to donate. “I want to show people that it’s attainable to steward communities and be a part of something bigger than yourself,” he said. “Giving doesn’t have to mean monetary contributions either, it can be reading to students, spending time with seniors, volunteering at a hospital like Ochsner.”
Damon’s engagement with the greater Gulf South community extends beyond Ochsner’s walls. He is currently a board member at Clover, formerly Kingsley House, a health-adjacent organization on a mission to educate children, strengthen families and build community. He is also a board member on the Young Leadership Council, a nonprofit organization created to support young professionals and empower them to create social change in their communities.
A proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., and recently named by Nola Adore Magazine as one of the 25 Most Influential New Orleanians, Damon’s success uplifting the people around him speaks for itself. But in the true spirit of giving, he humbly thanks the people around him.
“I am surrounded by an amazing group of friends and young philanthropists here in New Orleans,” Damon said. “We lift each other up.”
Pouring into others— and yourself
As the first five year member of the Alton Ochsner Society, Damon sets a powerful example for what sustainable giving can look like. “I want young professionals to know there is a way to give while living comfortably within your means,” he said. But he acknowledges that “pouring into others” shouldn’t mean depleting yourself— financially or emotionally.
“I have learned what overextending yourself looks like,” he explained. “It is so important to find the balance between giving 100% to what you care about while still practicing self-care and knowing when to say no.”
In Damon’s personal life, giving back to himself means traveling to new places, reading or enjoying lively, themed lunches with his friends. “Living in New Orleans, there’s always a lunch, a party, a gala— something to celebrate,” he laughed.
Creating a legacy of giving
Among the most exciting parts of Damon’s five year pledge is not yet knowing the innovative ways his gift to the Excellence Fund will transform patient care. As patient needs evolve in the years to come, his gift will continue to create impact across the organization, filling in the gaps where patients need it most.
As one of Ochsner Health’s youngest donors and the first five year member of the Alton Ochsner Society, Damon is trailblazing a new path forward for young professionals and philanthropists.
But the most important gift Damon hopes to give is compassion and love.
“My grandmother Vicky was such a jovial person, her energy radiated out of her,” he shared. “I hope my smile, my laugh and my compassion encourages others to find opportunities to give back in any way that makes sense for them.” One small commitment can amount to transformative change—just ask Damon.
OCHSNER SOCIETY 2023 MEMBERSHIP ROSTER
STAKEHOLDERS ($10,000-$24,999)
Louis and Sally Roussel
LEADERS ($5,000-$9,999)
Mr. and Mrs. Robert S. Boh
Mr. and Mrs. Louis Freeman
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Sonnier
PARTNERS ($1,000-$4,999)
Mrs. Ann B. Bailey
Ms. Mary Theresa Benson
Mr. Damon Carraby
Ms. Gwendolyn C. Carter
Mr. and Mrs. James Dagnon
Mr. and Mrs. James Gundlach
Mr. and Mrs. Michael W. Kearney
Mr. William J. Kearney IV
Mr. David Kelly
Dr. Abdul M. Khan
Mr. and Mrs. John McLean
Mrs. Gilda H. Moore
Mr. and Mrs. Lee F. Nettles
Dr. Pat O’Brien, PhD
Ms. Crescentia Pennock
Mrs. Bonnie Rault
Tom Snedeker & Emery Clark
Ms. Susan Ann Swanner
Mr. Oveal Watkins
SUPPORTERS ($500-$999)
Mr. L. Robert Batterman
Mr. Paul L. Benenati
Mr. Emanuel V. Benjamin III
Mr. John C. Blitch
Mrs. Sally T. Duplantier
Dr. and Mrs. John Ollie Edmunds
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Hiers
Mr. and Mrs. Ward A. Howard
Ms. Stephanie L. Jacobs
Mr. Jacob W. Kaul, Jr.
Mrs. Sylvia P. Laborde
Mr. and Mrs. Robert T. Lajaunie
Dr. Joseph L. Lindsay III
Mrs. Arlene J. Manguno
Mr. and Mrs. Stephen D. Manshel
Dr. and Mrs. Robert J. Marino
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Meinert
Mrs. Louise B. Moore
Mr. Arthur Ostheimer
Mr. William R. Picard II
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph A. Rotolo, Sr.
Dr. Mohammad Suleman
Mr. and Mrs. William E. Thibodeaux
Mr. C. Russell Wagner
Mr. Milton & Mrs. Beverly Webre
The Honorable and Mrs. Jacques L. Wiener, Jr.