Every November, United Way of Southeast Louisiana celebrates the unsung heroes who support our fight for a community where everyone is healthy, educated, and economically stable. The following heroes were nominated by our staff for the selfless ways they volunteer their time and talents.
Zeid Ammari & Camille Collins
Creole Cuisine Restaurant Concepts
Creole Cuisine Restaurant Concepts generously partnered with United Way SELA’s Hospitality Cares program to provide meals to hospitality industry workers struggling to make ends meet during the COVID-19 pandemic. Zeid and Camille worked with United Way to host three meal giveaways in 2020 as part of Creole Cuisine’s #CreoleCuisineCares community outreach program, and we look forward to helping more individuals together in 2021.
Joe Ard
Covington Fire Department
This year’s modified West St. Tammany Red Beans ‘N’ Rice Take-Out fundraiser posed unique challenges due to COVID-19 precautions. Joe took charge of the event to help it run as smoothly as possible while following safety guidelines. He secured the event permit, conducted a site visit for the new location, set up the traffic flow, stored supplies and delivered supplies, and of course – volunteered the day of the event!
JoLena Broussard
Cornerstone
JoLena never fails to go the extra mile to support United Way SELA. During Cornerstone’s Employee Giving Campaign, she helps share United Way’s impact with staff during presentations and organizes top-notch special events such as a chili cook-off. She also helps spread awareness of United Way beyond Cornerstone! This year, JoLena facilitated placement of a co-branded billboard showcasing Cornerstone’s support of United Way to the community.
Patterson Conner
Hancock Whitney Bank
Patterson is a valuable contributor to United Way SELA’s St. Tammany Parish Leadership Council and our Campaign Cabinet. He has helped open doors and creates new connections between United Way and the community, recruiting more supporters for our fight to eradicate poverty. Patterson also participates in Hancock Whitney’s annual United Way Workplace Giving Campaign.
Mason Couvillon
Dardis Couvillon & Associates
Mason is a dedicated volunteer, having served on United Way SELA’s Investment Committee since 2014 and as Chair of this committee for the past few years. He generously shares his knowledge, time, and experience for the betterment of UWSELA and is truly good-hearted.
Melanie Craig
People’s Health
As the Chair of United Way SELA’s Community Impact Committee, Melanie leads a diverse group of leaders who work to ensure sound funding decisions are made, and that United Way-funded partner programs and internal initiatives are effective and fiscally accountable. We’re grateful for the time she commits to spearhead this important work.
Dianne Dauterive
Retire United
Dianne helps United Way SELA every way she can, from volunteering at Retire United events to attending RU lunch and learns, and even giving blood at the RU blood drive! She is always willing to go above and beyond and is greatly appreciated.
Yvette Dellucky
The Advocate/Times Picayune
Thank you, Yvette, for always supporting United Way. From your professionalism and advice to going the extra mile by attending our events, you represent what it means to Live United!
Deborah Augustine Elam
Dining with Deb
Less than a month after Louisiana’s stay-at-home order was implemented, Deb organized a virtual dine-in fundraiser to support United Way SELA's Hospitality Cares Pandemic Response Fund. The event raised over $2,000 which provided four crisis grants to hospitality workers in need.
Shauna Ewens
The Folger Coffee Company
As a United Way Employee Campaign Coordinator, Shauna always puts her best into designing new ways to engage her colleagues at Folgers in the giving campaign. She also does a great job highlighting UWSELA Community Partners, whether through holding information fairs where employees can learn about the different agencies or facilitating volunteer projects that directly impact Community Partners.
Tammy Friloux
Bayou Barn
Tammy saved United Way SELA’s St. Tammany Red Beans ‘N’ Rice fundraisers this year, which were reimagined as take-outs to follow COVID-19 guidelines. Tammy, who has served as an East St. Tammany Red Beans Committee member for a few years, stepped up when a professional caterer was needed to safely prepare the red beans. Tammy and her team at Bayou Barn cooked over 1,000 servings of red beans, transported them with help from George Becnel of Bec’s on the Lake, and managed the safe packaging of each meal. Thanks to this support, the events raised over $17,000 for suicide prevention, mental health services, and other United Way programs.
Clarice Kirkland
School Social Worker
Clarice serves as Chair of the local Emergency Food & Shelter Program. She works with United Way SELA staff to provide oversight and administrative support of the EFSP, ensuring that the required organizations are represented and the purpose of the program is upheld.
Linda Larkin
Patriot Title/Community Volunteer
Patriot Title/Community VolunteerLinda is a dedicated United Way SELA volunteer who always steps up to support our community. She has served on United Way’s St. Tammany Parish Leadership Council for many years, including volunteering on multiple committees for events such as the East St. Tammany Red Beans ‘N’ Rice Cook-Off. Linda also volunteers with other nonprofits and business organizations to help our community thrive!
Prax Melancon
Investar Bank
Prax works tirelessly to help United Way SELA’s Individual Development Account (IDA) participants pursue home ownership with her sound expertise and dedication to affordable mortgage lending. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Prax quickly helped a distressed IDA client navigate the home purchasing process. With Prax’s guidance, the client was a proud homeowner in less than 30 days!
Marvel Robertson
Community Volunteer
Marvel serves as the UWSELA representative to Unity for the Homeless. She has committed her time to serve on Unity’s board and continues to look for ways to advance local work to eradicate poverty and homelessness.
Adam Rogge
Keystone Engineering Inc.
Adam volunteers on the St. Tammany Parish Leadership Council and is the Employee Campaign Coordinator for Keystone Engineering. He is always willing to support United Way in the community and at his workplace. With Adam's leadership, Keystone Engineering was a Top 60 United Way SELA contributor from the first year they ran a campaign, helping us create an even greater impact in the communities we serve.
Steve Ricard
Retire United
Steve Ricard is always eager to serve with United Way SELA’s Retire United group. Steve volunteered and brought a friend to a Retire United Mardi Gras bead sorting event with ARC and didn’t hesitate to help clear an outdoor area for a playground installation at the Family Violence Program of St. Bernard – in freezing weather!
Ronnie Slone
The Slone Group
Ronnie has provided amazing leadership and support to United Way SELA’s Louisiana Prisoner Re-Entry Initiative by leveraging his personal and professional connections and credibility. We’re grateful for his work to expand LA-PRI, which will allow us to help more formerly incarcerated individuals successfully reenter the community.
"Studio Steve" St. John
Entercom/WWL Radio
The team at Entercom always looks for opportunities to highlight the work of United Way and our volunteers through the shows they produce on WWL Radio. Steve helps deliver LIVE UNITED radio to listeners across the region. Throughout the pandemic, Steve has continued to support LIVE UNITED Radio as we record remotely and bring essential updates on COVID-19 relief efforts to the community.
Angela Herbert White
Angela has been instrumental in visioning and building United Way SELA's Kay Fennelly Summer Literacy Institute, a program of the New Orleans Campaign for Grade-Level Reading. She is committed to integrating literacy practices and shifting the culture of summer learning in New Orleans to establish a strong foundation and appreciation of literacy among summer programs, educators, and parents.
Zhane Farbe
City of New Orleans
Zhane is an outstanding Employee Campaign Coordinator for the City of New Orleans’ United Way giving campaign! Her organizational skills make campaign planning a breeze. We’re grateful for the time she commits to help share United Way’s impact and raise support for our fight to eradicate poverty.