About the Foundation
The Benjamin Blanchard Memorial Foundation keeps alive Ben’s spirit of love for community and encouraging others through school leadership, educational programs, and scholarships; as well as supporting cancer services in the Greater New Orleans and Covington areas.
Ben’s commitment was observed through his time, energy and financial support to St Paul’s School and Success Preparatory Academy, and his love of friendships and leadership through his work with Lambda Chi Fraternity at LSU! The Foundation will honor Ben’s work by awarding scholarships to students who exemplify Ben’s values, and will consider other charitable causes deemed “Ben-Worthy.”
The Foundation wishes to include Ben’s friends, family, and business associates in its mission. In addition to working together for charitable causes, the Benjamin Blanchard Memorial Foundation will celebrate Ben’s life at annual events worthy of his well-deserved reputation as the grand marshal of the South Louisiana social life.
Who is Ben Blanchard?
Benjamin Marquette Blanchard was the first-born child of Mark & Susan Blanchard in 1982. Ben was sweet, gentle and fun from the very beginning as he always made sure to show his love for his friends and family. He became the leader and protector of his family, as well as a mischief maker with his little brother, Christopher, with whom Ben played an array sports and activities. Ben was also a member of a variety of groups and clubs including National Honor Society, Environmental Sciences Club, and Eucharist Ministry. Ben’s friends, teachers, and Fraternity brothers knew him for his accomplishments and responsibility throughout his time in our presence.
Ben enjoyed life in its purest form. He spent many nights dancing into the morning and celebrating the people around him. Ben thoroughly enjoyed the positive things in life– always at a party, throwing a party, being the party! Ben loved people and people loved Ben.
Ben’s career began in 2004 as a Ship Broker for Van Weilde Charters where he successfully learned the business and their clients, and fell in love with traveling the world. Ben could make friends with anyone, whether they spoke the same language or not–one night when Ben was in a restaurant overseas, he performed the native dances in front of the restaurant and stole the show.
Ben travelled Worldwide: Paris, Mastricht, Amsterdam, Germany, Moscow, Greece, Cancun, Cabos San Lucas, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, and many more. However, no matter where he went, Ben’s deepest love was always New Orleans.
While living in Holland for work in 2005, Ben was stricken with sadness as he witnessed the destruction of Hurricane Katrina through the news and social media. Ben was committed to move back to New Orleans and re-build the city and state he loved. This opportunity came to him in 2007 when his bosses, Van Weilde and Robert Fredericks, would support his return and allow him to work in his beloved New Orleans.
Once Ben returned, he moved quickly to get involved. He believed that education was the best way for citizens to grow and recover, moving forward to a better life. To support this idea, Ben accepted a position at a new charter school, Success Prepatory Academy. Ben started from the bottom, lending man hours creating the mission statement and goals for the school with other civic minded Board Members. He would walk the Public Housing Areas and local grocery parking lots trying to locate young children who needed to get back to school. Ben would also rally friends and family to donate to the school, providing extra supplies needed in the classroom and later to fund the first ever college tour for the 8th graders. All in all, Ben was committed to education and had a passion for knowledge.
Keeping Ben’s Memory Alive
The M.V. Benjamin Confidence, a new 600-foot, 34,000-ton dry bulk vessel was officially named for Benjamin M. Blanchard, the son of Mark and Susan Blanchard, at a ceremony recently in Wilmington, Calif. The newest ship in the fleet of Orient Shipping Rotterdam B.V. (OSR), a member of the Van Weelde Shipping Group, the Benjamin Confidence is named for Ben Blanchard, who died in January 2016 at the age of 33.
Ben Blanchard worked for Van Weelde for 13 years and ran the company’s office in New Orleans for several years. OSRNan Weelde President Robert Frederiks said that the company includes “Confidence” in the names of all of its vessels, and that most are named for family members. “Ben was a very respected member of our team, a close friend of the Van Weelde family, and considered to be a member of my own family. We were honored that his beloved mother Susan was there during the naming ceremony to give the vessel HIS name,” Frederiks said. Pictured, top row, the Benjamin Confidence tied to the pier at Wilmington; Mark and Susan Blanchard, along with their son Chris, pose with a photograph of Ben on the bridge of the ship. Above right, Susan Blanchard unveils the Benjamin Confidence nameplate. Above left, Mark Blanchard shows off a t-shirt with Ben’s motto, “Never retreat. Never surrender.” The family presented t-shirts to the crew of the Benjamin Confidence. Below left, left to right, the Blanchards pose with Frederiks and his wife Liz on deck below the name plate.
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