When, in 2005, the Louisiana city of New Orleans suffered a devastating hurricane – Hurricane Katrina – Qatar provided one of the largest single recovery packages to New Orleans. The $100 million donation was divided between educational, health, humanitarian and religious organizations. Some of the key recipients included:

• Xavier University of Louisiana, the only historically black Catholic college in the US, which received a $17.5 million donation.
• The Children’s Hospital, which received a $5.3 million donation – the biggest gift the hospital had ever received.
• Numerous Religious institutions and places of worship, including Catholic churches, mosques, a Hindu temple and a synagogue.

The Qatar Katrina Fund was an act of humanitarianism still remembered today by those who were assisted. The Embassy in Washington DC also supports US arts and education programs affected by Katrina, and is very involved in the local community. The Embassy frequently donates both time and money to support local causes – including the local public school programs, area art museums, and numerous humanitarian organizations.