Community Foundation of Acadiana

Inaugural 2011 Leaders in Philanthropy Awards Luncheon

Community Foundation of Acadiana's Inaugural 2011 Leaders in Philanthropy Awards Luncheon

Photo courtesy of: The Daily Advertiser

Community Foundation of Acadiana (CFA) held its inaugural 2011 Leaders in Philanthropy Awards Luncheon at the Cajundome Convention Center on November 10, 2011, from 11:30am-1:30pm. The event featured Keynote Speaker Bert Jacobs, CEO of the Life is good® brand which has reached retail sales of over $100 million a year. He spoke of how optimism brings success in both business and philanthropy. Other key topics were leadership, corporate social responsibility, and entrepreneurship. Over 650 corporations, nonprofits, families and more benefited from his strong message. He addressed how his company’s Life is good Foundation, whose action arm, Life is good Playmakers, makes strides in dozens of communities across the U.S. for children who have experienced adversity through the power of joyful play.

CFA also presented eight Leaders in Philanthropy Awards to the following individuals and couples from each of its eight-parish service areas who, through their efforts in philanthropy, has created an impact in their community:

Acadia Parish –

Ted and Judy Carmichael

Evangeline Parish – Tim Fontenot

Iberia Parish – Dr. Mike and Mrs. Tommye Halphen

Lafayette Parish – James "Jim” H. Prince

St. Landry Parish – Bobby Dupre

St. Martin Parish – Kenneth L. Fournet, M.D.

St. Mary Parish – Gregory J. Hamer, Sr.

Vermilion Parish – Eugene M. Sellers

The 2011 Leaders in Philanthropy Awards Luncheon was presented by The Shaw Group:

The Shaw Group is a diverse, leading global organization with 27,000 employees and fiscal year 2010 revenues of $7 billion. The Shaw Group's ability to provide vertically integrated solutions to our clients in a variety of industries makes the organization stand out among its peers.

Learn more about Shaw’s strategic growth, organizational structure, strong commitment to safety and diversity, and involvement in the communities where we work and live. www.shawgrp.com

Thank you to our 2011 Sponsors!

Bert Jacobs, Life is good®

Brothers Bert and John Jacobs' business, Life is good®, has reached sales of over $100 million a year, with products sold in nearly 5,000 retailers nationwide. The Jacobs brothers and the business they built offer strong lessons for entrepreneurs everywhere, a fact that Inc. Magazine recognized when it featured the brothers as its cover story in October, 2006. Bert Jacobs is adept at drawing lessons from his first-hand story that can inspire and guide organizations of all sizes. Jacobs is a highly-sough-after speaker who has been on The Today Show, ABC News Nightline, many national magazines and more. For a sample of previous speaking engagements or for more information click here. To view an interview regarding his company's Life is good Foundation with The Today Show, click here.

Life is good® PLAYMAKERS

Learn more in this video!

The founders of Life is good® created a Kids Foundation, whose action arm "Life is good Playmakers" helps children overcome life-threatening challenges through the power of joy and optimism.

Friends of the Community Fund

While Keynote Speaker fees benefit the Life is good® Kids Foundation called Playmakers, event proceeds benefit CFA’s "Friends of the Community Fund”. The Fund secure’s CFA’s infrastructure and allows CFA to continue to inspire donors to increase giving, strengthen nonprofits and improve the quality of life in Acadiana.

Our Mission

To improve the quality of life in Acadiana by increasing giving, connecting donors to the causes they care about and providing leadership on community needs and opportunities.