Upbeat Evacuees Given More Hope

CEO Spots Jeanette Gray's Clan, Lends Huge Helping Hand

(CBS)  The less-than-stellar role the New Orleans Superdome played in the lives of many victims of Hurricane Katrina is well known.

Now, reports Hattie Kauffman, the company that runs the Staples Center — home of the Los Angeles Lakers and other teams — has gotten involved in a personal way by taking one evacuee family under its wing.

"All they need is just a little bit of help to get back on their feet, and we'd probably make a difference in their lives forever," says Tim Leiweke, CEO of the Anschutz Entertainment Group.

Jeanette Gray's clan of children and nine grandchildren includes a four-month old baby.

"I'm grateful to be alive, period," Gray says. "It's, like, we don't have nothin' to go back to."

Seven family members made the exodus out of New Orleans. Gray's granddaughter, Sydney Porter, says, "We evacuated on the work road. It took us, like, 24 hours to get to Houston."

Eventually, the family made it to a small apartment near Los Angeles, which is also home to two other family members. Nine people limited to two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and two full-size beds.

They also had "a couch, a nice living room floor, and all of us," says family member Hans Bailey.

"You don't want to be a burden on anybody," the infant's mother, Trashell Crawford, tearfully says.

Leiweke saw a local news story about the family.

"I couldn't believe their attitude," he says. "They were unbelievably calm, very positive. 'This will work out, we're not worried about it. We love each other. It's OK if we're sleeping five in a room."

He saw something different in the Gray clan.

"They never complained about FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Agency), even though they probably should have," he says.

Leiweke decided the Staples Center Foundation would help them with supplies, move them to a larger apartment, and pay their rent for a year.

"A whole year?" Gray says. "Don't have to worry about being evicted? I thank God."

Leiweke made sure the kids we're enrolled in good schools.

"There are lots of books" in hers, says Sydney.

Books could be a big part of her future. The foundation may cover college tuition if the kids stay in school.

"Ten, 20 years from now, hopefully, these kids will be staying in touch with us, writing letters back to us, and letting us know how they're doing," he says. "And if they need help, we can help 'em down the road again."

The Staples Center isn't helping hordes of people, but Leiweke says he hopes others who have the means will follow his lead by helping one family at a time and following through.

"You don't adopt a family for a week or a year," he says. "You adopt a family like this for the rest of their period of trials and tribulations and growing up and trying to make something out of their life."

The foundation also wrote a $1 million dollar check to the American Red Cross, and Leiweke is challenging others in the corporate world to reach out personally.