The Ville Platte Rotary Club heard from Dr. Gwen Fontenot, retired Dean from the University of Louisiana School of Business. She was introduced by Mark Suellentrop, Cabot Plant manager to discuss the Evangeline Parish Foundation. Dr. Fontenot, is a native of Evangeline Parish and since her retirement, has moved back home. She along with Suellentrop, Anita Fontenot and Leonard Fontenot are among members that serve on the newly formed Evangeline Parish Foundation. Some two years ago, Investar Bank made a $50,000 grant toward the foundation. The goal of the foundation is to raise a million dollars and the earnings from that money will be given out to help groups and individuals in grant funding . Cabot has awarded $1000 in seed money toward a special education fund and is challenging businesses, groups and individuals to match or make a donation toward this education fund to help our local parish schools. The goal is to reach $250,000. The five percent in earnings will be given in grant scholarships. Fontenot stated" We want to improve the quality of life in Evangeline Parish. Our graduates are leaving this parish for good paying jobs elsewhere. We need them to stay here." She said "The people of Evangeline Parish are among the most generous and passionate people and are generous with their resources for projects they believe in." She said "We give to our favorite charities and we sponsor events like youth baseball." "Philanthropy is not just for the wealthy. You are making an investment into something your business believes in," she said. Rotary Club President Peter Strawitz reported that the Ville Platte club has tied with the much larger Gonzales Rotary club in having the biggest increase in new members in the rotary district with seven new members this year. Strawitz announced that the local club will be cooking pork sandwiches this weekend at the Grand Hoorah Folk Roots festival at Chicot State Park.