[StBernard] National Leaders step up to head Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation

[Westley Annis]

National Leaders step up to head Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation 
Ambassador James A. Joseph Elected Chair, Sherece West Named Managing
Director of Louisiana's Fund for Louisiana's People

Baton Rouge, LA - Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco today announced that
the Board of Directors of the Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation has
elected Ambassador James A. Joseph as its new Chair and Sherece West as a
loaned executive managing director. 

"We are fortunate to be able to secure a native son with sterling diplomatic
service credentials for our nation. Dr. Joseph is also a leader in
philanthropy and will bring valuable experience to creating and sustaining
this important recovery fund for Louisiana's people. He has a proven
knowledge of Louisiana and a history of community service alongside his many
accomplishments," stated Governor Blanco. "Sherece West has a well
established track record as a community leader and public servant. Combined
with her current work in Louisiana and her foundation background, the State
of Louisiana will be well served by her talent and experience," said
Governor Blanco. 

Ambassador Joseph, who was born in Opelousas, LA, and graduated from
Southern University and Yale, has had a distinguished career in government,
business, philanthropy and education. He currently heads the United States -
South Africa Center for Leadership and Public Values that he founded at both
Duke University and the University of Cape Town. Prior to this, he served
under four U.S. Presidents, most recently as United States Ambassador to
South Africa. He succeeds Xavier University President Norman Francis, who
was tapped by Governor Blanco to head the state's disaster recovery
authority. 

In accepting the board's invitation to serve as Chair, Ambassador Joseph
said, "I am delighted to be able to serve my home state of Louisiana in this
way. I look forward to using my years of experience in government and
philanthropy to help transform the disaster that hit the state into
unprecedented opportunity." 

Sherece West brings Louisiana's Fund for Louisiana's People over 15 years
experience in community service. Currently, West is the president and chief
executive officer of the Carrier Foundation, a newly formed family
foundation dedicated to improving the life chances of disadvantaged children
and families primarily in Southwest Louisiana.  Formerly, West served at the
Annie E. Casey Foundation and spent 13 years with the Rebuilding Communities
Initiative, which focused on community development and affordable housing.
She succeeds loaned executive Dr. Emmett Carson of the Minneapolis
Foundation, who will serve as a national advisor. 

Ambassador Joseph spent fourteen years as President and Chief Executive
Officer of the Council on Foundations, an international association of
foundations and corporate giving programs whose members have more than $200
billion in assets. From 1996-2000, he served as Ambassador to South Africa
in the Clinton Administration, where he was the first and only American
Ambassador to present his credentials to President Nelson Mandela. 

Joseph also served as Under Secretary of the Department of the Interior in
the Administration of President Jimmy Carter and as an incorporating
director of the Points of Light Foundation and a member of the Board of
Advisors on Historically Black Colleges under President George H.W. Bush. He
was Founding Chairman of the Corporation for National Service that
established Americorps under President Clinton and he serves presently as
Chair of the Board of Directors of the NHP Foundation in Washington, D.C. He
has been involved in establishing foundations across the United States as
well as in Latin America, Europe, Africa and Asia. 

Ambassador Joseph was honored by the Republic of South Africa with the
"Order of Good Hope," the highest award presented to a citizen of another
country. He has also received a number of awards from his home state of
Louisiana, including the Chancellor's medal from LSU, an honorary doctorate
from Southern University where a special academic Chair has been established
in his name and he has received special citations for meritorious
achievement by both the Louisiana Senate and the House of Representatives. 

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The Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation (LDRF), Louisiana's fund for
Louisiana's people, has been established by Governor Kathleen Babineaux
Blanco in order to support long-term family restoration and recovery and
help provide assistance to our citizens in need through a network of
Louisiana charities and non-profit agencies. 

1-877-HELPLA1 (877-435-7521) www.louisianahelp.org