“ROAD TO RECOVERY” CONCERT GENERATES $10,000 FOR NAMI ACADIANA
Nov 03, 2015 04:59PM ● By Flint Zerangue, Sr.
Organizers of “Lafayette’s Road to Recovery”
benefit concert recently presented a check
for $10,000 to NAMI Acadiana, local chapter
of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. The
event, held August 14 at Parc International in
downtown Lafayette, was created to promote
mental health awareness, education and
advocacy in the wake of the July shooting at
the Grand Theatre.
The concert, which featured live performances by Blaine Roy and Second Wind, Joel Martin, Cupid, Keith Frank and Wayne Toups, attracted more than 600 people. The Organizers — Pat Mould, Chris and Rachel Foreman — hoped to bring attention to the hazards of untreated mental illness, which can have serious and long-lasting effects on individuals, their families and the entire community. They partnered with Community Foundation of Acadiana (CFA) to establish a charitable fund that could receive the money raised and then distribute it to NAMI Acadiana.
“We’re proud to be able to help the community with efforts like this,” said Raymond Hébert, CEO of CFA.
At the time, other groups were raising money for the families of the victims, so the organizers decided to focus on the broader issue of mental illness. “We wanted to make a difference, and we felt strongly that this was an issue that needed more attention,” said Chris Foreman.
NAMI Acadiana was chosen to receive the money because of an all-volunteer staff and their work in the local community. The National Alliance on Mental Illness is the nation’s largest grassroots, nonprofit mental health organization. The group provides services and classes in the local community and works to raise awareness for mental health needs.
Community Foundation of Acadiana’s (CFA) core purpose is to connect all generous people to the causes they care about. CFA is South Louisiana’s premier philanthropic organization benefiting our region, with a particular focus on the parishes of Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Mary, St. Martin and Vermilion. CFA has realized cumulative gifts exceeding $160 million and has made cumulative grants of over $80 million. Learn more at www.acfacadiana.org.
The concert, which featured live performances by Blaine Roy and Second Wind, Joel Martin, Cupid, Keith Frank and Wayne Toups, attracted more than 600 people. The Organizers — Pat Mould, Chris and Rachel Foreman — hoped to bring attention to the hazards of untreated mental illness, which can have serious and long-lasting effects on individuals, their families and the entire community. They partnered with Community Foundation of Acadiana (CFA) to establish a charitable fund that could receive the money raised and then distribute it to NAMI Acadiana.
“We’re proud to be able to help the community with efforts like this,” said Raymond Hébert, CEO of CFA.
At the time, other groups were raising money for the families of the victims, so the organizers decided to focus on the broader issue of mental illness. “We wanted to make a difference, and we felt strongly that this was an issue that needed more attention,” said Chris Foreman.
NAMI Acadiana was chosen to receive the money because of an all-volunteer staff and their work in the local community. The National Alliance on Mental Illness is the nation’s largest grassroots, nonprofit mental health organization. The group provides services and classes in the local community and works to raise awareness for mental health needs.
Community Foundation of Acadiana’s (CFA) core purpose is to connect all generous people to the causes they care about. CFA is South Louisiana’s premier philanthropic organization benefiting our region, with a particular focus on the parishes of Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Mary, St. Martin and Vermilion. CFA has realized cumulative gifts exceeding $160 million and has made cumulative grants of over $80 million. Learn more at www.acfacadiana.org.
