Rebuilding New Orleans

We at Paragon Jousting have long believed that simply getting on a horse and breaking lances on people does not make one a knight. What we do in the days and weeks in between is far more important. As such, we try to do the right thing and help those in need when we can. In March of 2011 the Paragon Jousting team will travel to New Orleans to spend time volunteering for Habitat for Humanity, building new homes for the people of the city. In the Spring of 2010, Scott and Becca spent a week working for Habitat in New Orleans, and they were amazed to see how much work there still is to be done, 5 years after Hurricane Katrina.

The people of New Orleans are strong and proud, struggling to rebuild after a series of catastrophes with very little outside help. The city is a special place, and its citizens are nothing short of inspiring. They deserve better than what they have received. We at Paragon Jousting cannot change the world, but we can try to bring a little hope, and a little help to people who need it.

Paragon Jousting will underwrite the cost of this trip, but we will also be undertaking various fundraising efforts throughout the 2010 touring season to help offset the cost. The more money we can raise, the more people we can take on the trip, and the more we can donate directly to New Orleans charities. Our horses want to help as well, and since they cannot hold hammers, we'll be offering warhorse rides for donations at every venue we perform at. All the money raised from the rides will go directly to this effort. We will also have some special events announced as the season goes on. We would especially like to thank our partners at the Illinois Renaissance Festival for their very strong support of this project, and our friends at the Connecticut Renaissance Faire for allowing us to do fundraising at their event.

If you'd like to talk to us about the project, or if you'd like to help, catch any of our knights or horses on the road this season and we'll be happy to discuss it. If you can't see us on the road this season but you'd still like to help, we are accepting donations directly via PayPal at

Questions or comments may be sent directly to Scott at

Paragon Jousting is not a charity. We are simply doing this because it's the right thing to do, and people need our help. If you choose to support us, we thank you.

Sometimes it is easy to know the right thing to do. We are defined by our actions.

Scott Rodlin
Director
Paragon Jousting