Last Thursday, officials from across the parish gathered at Investar Bank in Ville Platte to announce its decision to invest $50,000.00 of seed money for the creation of the Evangeline Parish Foundation (EPF).
The foundation is an affiliate of Community Foundation of Acadiana and has a mission to satisfy donors’ specific interests by supporting and contributing to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, churches, schools and public entities throughout Evangeline Parish.
Several local officials were in attendance at the event including mayors from across the parish as well as police jurors and representatives from the Ville Platte Chamber of Commerce.
The seed money donated by Investar Bank in the amount of $50,000.00 is the first step to creating the Evangeline Parish Foundation and has now led the local bank to challenge community leaders, both public and private, to match its donation.
In a press release from Investar, it states that “the EPF will provide grant opportunities to many Evangeline Parish organizations that align with the results of the needs assessment.” The release went on to state that “the EPF looks forward to expanding their efforts to reach more generous donors and will soon launch a $1 million fundraising campaign,” which according to the release “will not only help Evangeline community members but further enhance community development in the Parish.”
John D’Angelo, President and CEO of Investar Bank, said, “We are excited to show the community that Investar cares deeply for the people of Evangeline Parish. We hope to see the funds used to help educators and improve healthcare services.”
Families and businesses can donate charitable and philanthropic funds to the foundation, which donors can name after themselves, a family, or a company, or in memory or honor of someone.
Those funds can either be donor-directed funds or permanent funds. Donor-directed funds are donor direct grant distributions to other 501(c)(3) non profit organizations, churches, schools and public entities any time, in any amount, any year. Permanent funds are never spent, but are invested, and annually generate dollars that are used for the benefit of nonprofit organizations, churches, schools and public entities who serve Evangeline Parish as determined by the EPF.
Because of the $50,000.00 seed money donation from Investar Bank, the EPF will get started by engaging with the University of Louisiana in Lafayette to conduct a community needs assessment to identify where the greatest needs lie. According to EPF and Investar, “this process should take three to six months and the results will be shared with the EPF Board of Directors, led by Matt Marcantel, Evangeline Market President and Senior Vice President for Investar Bank.”
Before handing over the $50,000.00 check from Investar to the EPF, Marcantel said, “This seed money is what it takes to grow, and hopefully that money will allow the Evangeline Parish Foundation to grow to make a difference in our parish. I am proud to be here as a resident of Evangeline Parish and we are going to continue to do whatever it takes to help every community in this parish.”
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ELIZABETH WEST