Tri-Parish couples receive Leaders in Philanthropy Awards

Three Tri-Parish couples will be honored by the Community Foundation of Acadiana with its 2015 Leaders in Philanthropy Award.
The awards luncheon is scheduled Nov. 3 at the Cajundome Convention Center. Doors open at 11 a.m., and the program is from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Luncheon tickets and tables are open to the public and are now on sale. Tickets are $75 each, and tables of eight are $500. To register to attend, visit cfacadiana.org/LIPRegistration or contact Bethany Danos at bdanos@cfacadiana.org or 337-769-4849.
CFA will present eight parish awards to individuals and couples from across its service area who have made a philanthropic impact in their communities by making or attracting substantial charitable contributions. Two corporate awards will also be presented to companies that have made a philanthropic impact in at least one of the eight parishes of CFA’s primary service area. Nominations for the Leaders In Philanthropy Awards were received from the public and final selections were made by CFA’s Board of Directors Emeriti. Award recipients will be formally announced in September.
The award winners are:
— Evangeline Parish – Kermit and Sheila Miller.
— Acadia Parish – Charlotte and Joe Freeland.
— Iberia Parish – Johnny and Cathy Indest.
— Lafayette Parish – Paul Hilliard.
— St. Landry Parish – Pat and Alice Morrow.
— St. Martin Parish – David Buck.
— St. Mary Parish – Sylvia and Fulton C. “Butch” Felterman Jr.
— Vermilion Parish – Paul Patout & Patrick Patout.
Pat Morrows law firm, Morrow, Morrow, Ryan and Basset, provides annual scholarships for area students and encourages the awardees to seek jobs within St. Landry and Evangeline parishes. The Morrow family also established the J. Michael Morrow Memorial Scholarship at the LSU Law Center, and was instrumental in the establishment of the L’Ecreivisse Scholarship at the LSU Law Center. Pat Morrow is a board member of Vision St. Landry and Hospital Service District No. 2, in addition to his role on the Board of Trustees at Opelousas General Health System.
Alice Morrow, a former special education teacher with the St. Landry Parish Public School System, served the New Life Women’s and Children’s Center in Opelousas as a board member and volunteer tutor. She now writes Geaux Ask Alice, a food blog that focuses on the importance of family meals and maintaining family traditions.
Kermit and Sheila are the owners of Jack Miller’s Bar-B-Que Sauce, founded in 1955 by Kermit’s father, Jack D. Miller. The pair is active in the business community, including the Ville Platte Chamber of Commerce.
The Millers are supporters of both the Cotton Festival and the Smoked Meat Festival in Ville Platte, where they have helped with event coordination, donations, and volunteered as judges for cooking competitions. In 2004, Governor Kathleen Blanco awarded Jack Miller’s Food Products the prestigious Lantern Award for exemplifying the best in community awareness and involvement. Kermit and Sheila have also previously been named Man and Woman of the Year for the city of Ville Platt
Joe and Charlotte Freeland have been selected to receive the 2015 Leaders in Philanthropy Award for the positive impact they have made in Acadia Parish. Joe Freeland helped establish the Community Outreach Corporation, an organization dedicated to serving the less fortunate in Acadia Parish. One of COC’s first projects was the Welcome House, for which he served as project chairman. He served on the board of Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization for six years, including two years as chairman. Joe also served on the founding board for the Episcopal School of Acadiana, including a term as chairman.
Charlotte Freeland was a member of Avec Souci, a community improvement group in Lafayette, and participated in the Feed My Sheep program, which provided food to struggling families that did not otherwise qualify for federal programs. She is a former member and board member of the Lafayette Symphony Women’s League, and now serves on the board of directors of the Grand Opera House of the South and was chairman of the program committee.
The purpose of CFA’s 2015 Leaders in Philanthropy Awards Luncheon is to honor outstanding area philanthropists, increase awareness of the value of philanthropy and to educate the public about CFA and its mission across its eight-parish service area. CFA President and CEO Raymond J. Hébert said, “Being able to showcase the great work of Acadiana residents is something we’re proud to do. Philanthropy is such an important part of our community.”