[StBernard] Governor announces first round of board selections for Foundation

[Westley Annis]

CIVIC & COMMUNITY LEADERS TAPPED FOR 
LOUISIANA DISASTER RECOVERY FOUNDATION


New Orleans University President to Chair New Foundation

Baton Rouge, LA--Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco today announced a first
round of board selections for the newly formed Louisiana Disaster Recovery
Foundation (LDRF) and the selection of Xavier University of Louisiana
President, Norman Francis, as chairman of the new board, with loaned
executive, Dr. Emmett Carson, Chairman of the national Council on
Foundations, to serve as interim CEO.  The non-profit foundation was
established to accept donations that will be used to meet the needs of the
thousands of Louisiana citizens whose lives have been devastated by
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. 

"We have asked national foundation leaders and some of Louisiana's most
respected private citizens to serve as leaders of Louisiana's fund for
Louisiana's people.  The task of assisting with family restoration is a
monumental one and will require the combined knowledge and reach of this
special group of leaders who have a proven knowledge of Louisiana and a
history of community service," said Governor Blanco. "We wanted to send a
message to the world that support for this foundation is appreciated and
that our new foundation will be established with the highest standards,"
continued Blanco. 

In announcing the appointment of noted educator and New Orleans civic
leader, Dr. Norman Francis, to chair the prestigious panel, Governor Blanco
noted, "Dr. Francis is a leader with impeccable credentials who represents
interests broad and wide. His experience serving on national, state and
local boards and his reputation as one of the South's great educational
leaders will serve the people of New Orleans and Louisiana well.  That he
has agreed to step forward to provide leadership at a time when there are so
many demands on his time and energy, speak volumes about Dr. Francis'
character and concern for his fellow Louisianians," said Blanco.

Additional members appointed to serve on the foundation's board include: 
Dr. Brenda Birkett, Dean, School of Business, McNeese State University, Lake
Charles
Renae Conley, CEO Louisiana, Entergy Corporation, New Orleans 
Father Hampton Davis, Notre Dame Seminary, New Orleans
Berwick Duval, II, Attorney at Law, Duval, Funderburk, Sundbery, Lovell &
Watkins, Houma 
Linetta Gilbert, Program Officer, Ford Foundation, New York, formerly of New
Orleans 
Bill Henning, CEO, Cameron Communications, Sulphur
Sybil Holt, AFL-CIO (retired), Baton Rouge
Reverend Fred Luter, Senior Pastor, Franklin Avenue Baptist Church, New
Orleans
R. King Milling, President, Whitney Bank, New Orleans
John Redd, III, CPA, Arsement, Redd & Morella, LLC, Lafayette

The foundation, formed by Governor Blanco during the first week following
Hurricane Katrina, assembled some of the best and brightest officers from
the foundation community nationwide to help design a high-performing,
accountable organization. Among leaders invited to participate in planning
sessions were foundation program officers central to the establishment of
guidelines and funding principles designed in the aftermath of 9/11 in New
York. Significant financial and volunteer services to start-up the
foundation have been donated by Ohio based, KnowledgeWorks Foundation. The
foundation is also receiving support and in-kind services from Paul Pastorek
of Adams and Reese, providing pro bono legal services, and the America's
WETLAND Foundation, providing management, media and corporate outreach
services. 

The LDRF was created to help attract funds to a central Louisiana disaster
recovery effort that would work with well-established community
grants-making foundations and non-profit agencies, such as United Way, to
efficiently and effectively reach organizations working with those most in
need. It has been recognized as one of three funds created by the Governors
of states impacted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita by USA Freedom Corps and
the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund.

In the new fund's transition and developmental period, the Chair of the
Council on Foundations, President and CEO of the Minneapolis Foundation,
Emmett D. Carson, Ph.D., has accepted the Governor's invitation to serve as
a loaned executive CEO for the LDRF.  "Dr. Carson is well known and
respected for assisting foundations around the world in developing
grantmaking programs that improve and strengthen local communities.  He will
bring unique expertise and oversight, from his position as Chair of the
Council on Foundations, the nation's most recognized gathering of foundation
leaders," said Blanco.

A practitioner-scholar, Dr. Carson has developed an international reputation
for innovative philanthropy and for conducting research that has helped to
define key trends in the nonprofit sector. He has published over 75 works on
philanthropy and social justice issues. Previously, Dr. Carson was the first
manager of the Ford Foundation's international and U.S. grant making program
on philanthropy and the nonprofit sector. He also has worked for the Joint
Center for Political and Economic Studies and the Congressional Research
Service where he conducted public policy research.

Donations to the Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation can be made 24/7
toll-free by calling, 877-HELPLA1 or 877-435-7521 and using credit and debit
cards.  Donations can also be made online at www.louisianahelp.org.
Donations made by check should be made payable to the Louisiana Disaster
Recovery Foundation and mailed to: PO Box 94095, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9095.


The Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation was established in order to help
provide assistance to Louisiana citizens in need through a network of
Louisiana charities and non-profit agencies. The Foundation is also designed
to support long-term family restoration and recovery by focusing on
education, housing, health care, legal assistance and jobs for Louisiana
families whose lives have been altered by Hurricane Katrina. For additional
information visit www.louisianahelp.org. 

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