At the time, Harvey said the shelter was having financial troubles and was even compiling an emergency list of possible adopters in case the shelter had to close. But luckily for the 90-plus cats at the House of Mews, Service Assurance co-owners Mark Giannini and Kelli Mitchell read that article. The IT company offered $36,000 to pay the House of Mews’ mortgage for three years and committed to 10 hours of employee volunteer time each week.
“After reading that Elain was going to keep the no-kill shelter open at the expense of her own home, we were moved by her level of commitment and decided to fill this urgent need,” said Giannini. “Giving back to the community is something that’s woven into the very fabric of our company, so this was a natural fit for us.”
They'll be the first overnight cruises on the river since 2008.
Cruise West says the 207-foot Spirit of America - formerly used in Alaska as The Spirit of Glacier Bay - will leave New Orleans on March 19, 2011, for an eight-day trip to Memphis.
It will leave Memphis for Nashville via the Mississippi, Ohio and Cumberland rivers, on March 26. The trips back will leave Nashville on April 2, and Memphis on April 9.
The second set of trips will start April 16, 23, and 30, and May 7.
Each will cost $3,499 to $5,099 and include five stops. Between New Orleans and Memphis, they are Vacherie and St. Francisville, La., Vicksburg and Natchez, Miss., and Helena, Ark. Between Memphis and Nashville, the stops are New Madrid, Mo., Paducah and Smithland, Ky., and Dover and Clarksville, Tenn.