Big Charity

Big Charity shares the untold story behind the death of an iconic institution and unveils the truth about one of the largest single payouts of federal disaster funds in state history. Founded as a hospital for the poor, Charity Hospital began in 1736 as just a small cottage built on the goodwill of a dying French merchant. Run by the nuns of The Daughters of Charity and serving the city of New Orleans for close to 300 years, it gradually transitioned into an enormous public institution - into Big Charity - and a longstanding symbol of compassion, a seemingly eternal place of safety and a beacon of hope in the community. Today the towering art deco building, closed abruptly after Hurricane Katrina hit in August 2005, stands empty, and the community continues to suffer devastating consequences from its absence. This documentary film includes never-before-scene footage and exclusive interviews to tell the story of Charity Hospital, from its roots to its controversial closing in the wake o