Lafayette, LA–-The Louisiana Wetlands Association presented $5,000 to Community Foundation of Acadiana on Thursday, October 14, 2010, the first major contribution to the newly developed Palmetto Island State Park Fund at the Foundation and the first of naming rights opportunities set in motion. The fund was created to facilitate the opening of the Palmetto Island State Park on October 28, 2010 and the maintenance of the park thereafter. Wayne Touchet, President of the Louisiana Wetlands Association in Abbeville, presented the contribution to the Foundation on behalf of the Association. Donors to the fund can choose from a list of naming opportunities, and the park's Canoe Launch will now bear the Louisiana Wetlands Association name in memory of founders Ronney Mayard and Russell Gaspard.

"The Louisiana Wetlands Association started out as a group of friends who were passionate about preserving and protecting our wetlands, we would not be what we are today without Ronney Mayard and Russell Gaspard, who have passed since the establishment of the Association”, said Touchet, "The Palmetto Island State Park is right in the middle of our Wetlands, and it only makes sense for us to support our state parks, Ronney and Russell would have wanted this,” Touchet added. Touchet is also Vermilion Parish Police Jury President and has been integral in making the opening of the park a reality.

Lieutenant Governor Scott Angelle committed $400,000 in state funds to open the park. In addition, citizens groups, the Greater Vermilion-Abbeville Chamber of Commerce, the Vermilion Parish Tourist Commission, and state and local officials are all working together with the Foundation to raise funds that will help keep the park open and operating. The Foundation is a neutral, objective 501 (c) (3) that can attract tax-deductible contributions to this fund; provide professional management of the invested dollars of the fund, which will in turn provide for long-term growth. Because of this broad role, the Foundation has become south central Louisiana's leading philanthropic organization.

The beauty of the Palmetto Island State Park is not only its lush plant life and facilities, but also the promise of economic vitality that it is poised to provide for Vermilion Parish and all of Acadiana. It will serve Louisiana citizens and out-of-state visitors, becoming a vehicle for strengthening tourism in our region. The park, a 1299-acre facility, is located off La. 82 on the Vermilion River between Abbeville and Intracoastal City on 19501 Pleasant Road.

For more information, or to make a tax-deductible donation to the Palmetto Island State Park Fund visit: www.cfacadiana.org/giving , click "Fund Highlights” and "Palmetto Island State Park Fund”. For available naming rights opportunities call the Foundation at 337.769.4845.

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About Community Foundation of Acadiana:

Community Foundation of Acadiana's mission is to improve the quality of life in our region by increasing giving, connecting donors to the causes they care about, and providing leadership on community needs and opportunities. Anyone can be a philanthropist – Donors establish a fund at the Foundation, with any dollar amount, invest the fund, and make grants on fund earnings to fulfill immediate community needs or permanent charitable objectives.

The Foundation focuses its primary grant making within an eight-parish area: Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary and Vermilion. As a tax-exempt, non-profit charity the Foundation offers the following advantages: maximum tax benefits, competitive investment fees, variety of investment options, recognition or anonymity, expertise in community needs and grant making. The Foundation has assets exceeding $46 million and it has granted almost $20 million back into the community since its inception in 2000.

For more information visit: http://www.cfacadiana.org/