Investar Bank has helped establish the newly created Evangeline Parish Foundation, an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Acadiana with an initial investment of $50,000. The bank challenged community leaders, both public and private to match this donation so the Foundation can being with $100,000 of seed funding.

   The Foundation 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 which will take 3-6 months.

   The Foundation will provide grant opportunities to Evangeline Parish non- profits and organizations that align with the results of the needs assessment. The Foundation will launch a one million dollar fund raising campaign.

   At a special event at Investar Bank , Ville Platte Branch, held today (Thursday)  Mark Suellentrop, was the emcee. Among the speakers: Raymond Hebert, CEO of Community Foundation of Acadiana. Hebert said “The Foundation will be something good for Evangeline Parish.” Also speaking were Anita Fontenot of the Foundation, Robert Lott, Investar Acadiana Market President and Matt Marcantel, Evangeline Market President of Investar Bank.

  Among the guests were Mayor Ricky Fontenot of Mamou and Mayor Heather Cloud of Turkey Creek , School Superintendent Darwan Lazard and school supervisors along with Police Jury Secretary Treasurer Donald Bergeron and members of the Evangeline Parish Police Jury and Evangeline Parish Chamber President Renee Brown. Also attending was Dr. Tojo Ward with the Industrial Development Board.

   The Evangeline Parish Foundation Board will be comprised of Mark Sullentrop, Rhonda Butler, Gwen Fontenot, Randy Deshotel, Donald Fontenot, Kitty Deshotel, Eugene Fontenot and Leonard Fontenot.