LAFAYETTE, La. — Five Evangeline Parish nonprofits will receive $17,500 in grants to provide school supplies for students experiencing homelessness, safe transitional housing, and other community needs.
The grants were awarded through the Evangeline Affiliate Foundation, part of Community Foundation of Acadiana’s (CFA) Affiliate Grants Program. The program is supported by charitable funds that individuals, families, and businesses have established at CFA to create lasting local change in their own communities.
Evangeline Affiliate Foundation board members reviewed each proposal before awarding grants of up to $5,000.
“Through a competitive grants process, organizations have to submit detailed information about the work that they do, about the program they’re looking to get funded, and about the budget associated with that work,” said Missy Bienvenu, president and CEO of CFA. “So, it allows us around the table not just to move dollars, but it’s an educational tool for us to understand who does the work and what the specific needs of the community are.”
Gifting Grace Project Founder & Executive Director David Owens shared the impact of the affiliate grant he received last year. He said their goal was to give 100 backpacks in Evangeline Parish. With the grant, they exceeded the goal.
“It was absolutely wonderful to have the support last year to come in and make a difference here with children and families,” Owens said. “With your support, as well as support from others in the community, with the grant, we were able to reach 130 students.”
The Affiliate Grants Program is made possible by charitable funds established by individuals, families, and businesses who have contributed gifts to CFA and believe in creating lasting local change.
2026 Evangeline Affiliate Foundation Grant Recipients
- Evangeline Economic Development Authority: Building Economic Development Capacity in Evangeline Parish ($2,500). Funds a website with key community information, profiles, workforce resources, and regional economic development information.
- Freedom Family Church: J 29:11 Houses Future and Hope ($5,000). Purchases and installs mini-split air conditioning systems for the church’s after-school students.
- Gifting Grace Project: Pack the Backpack Initiative ($5,000). Provides 130 backpacks filled with school and classroom essentials for students experiencing homelessness in Evangeline Parish.
- The Confidence Campaign: HealthyHER Life Tour, Evangeline Parish Girls Empowerment Initiative ($2,500). Enables the program to serve 50 girls, ages 12 to 16, in the parish.
- Xtra Mile Recovery Assistance: Xtra Mile Transitional Workforce Housing ($2,500). Pays for materials and labor to preserve transitional housing.
About Community Foundation of Acadiana
CFA is one of South Louisiana’s premier philanthropic organizations benefiting our region, with a focus on the parishes of Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Mary, St. Martin, and Vermilion. CFA’s core purpose is to build legacies and improve communities by connecting generous people to the causes they care about. Since its inception in 2000, CFA has realized cumulative gifts exceeding $431 million and has made cumulative grants of more than $256 million. You can learn more at www.cfacadiana.org.