Alexandria nonprofit receives Humana’s Louisiana Benefits 2009 grant

Humana, one of Louisiana’s leading health benefits companies, awarded a $100,000 grant in its 2009 Louisiana Benefits charitable giving program on Oct. 15 to Rapides Children’s Advocacy Center of Alexandria.



Rapides, which provides a safe environment for children to retell their abuse stories, plans to use its one-time $100,000 Louisiana Benefits grant to expand its services into Central Louisiana parishes by equipping a customized motor home.



“This specially reconfigured motor home will provide a safe and comfortable, child-friendly setting for us to conduct forensic interviews with the children,” said Rapides Executive Director Wade Bond. “With this new mobile advocacy center funded by Humana, we’ll also be able to provide therapy to abused children and their families, and assist law enforcement agencies and our justice system in investigating and prosecuting child abuse throughout all of Central Louisiana.”



Bond said Rapides hopes to have its new Humana-backed motor home traveling the roads of Central Louisiana sometime during the first quarter of 2010.



For the third consecutive year, Humana’s Louisiana Benefits awarded a one-time, $100,000 signature grant to a nonprofit organization based in Louisiana that is doing valuable work to benefit the people who live in the state. Louisiana Benefits supports charitable organizations that are focused on improving health experiences or building healthy communities in the areas of  Mind, Body or Spirit.



More than 60 New Orleans business, civic and nonprofit leaders attended Humana’s 2009 Louisiana Benefits grant celebration event Oct. 15 at the Audubon Tea Room in New Orleans. Humana this fall received nearly 80 applications from Louisiana nonprofit groups and charitable organizations seeking the $100,000 grant.



A diverse panel of local judges, comprised of community leaders, public officials and business representatives, worked with Humana to select the 2009 $100,000 grant recipient in Louisiana Benefits.



“We know that in this economy it’s a challenging time for nonprofits and charities in our state,” said Humana Gulf States Region Senior Products Market President Jeffrey Fernandez, “so we’re pleased and proud that we can provide this transformational grant to Rapides Children’s Advocacy Center to advance their great work.”



“This program is playing a significant role in promoting healthy lives and healthy communities for people in Louisiana,” said Humana Louisiana Commercial Market President Jamie Schlottman. “Since its inception, Louisiana Benefits has been making a real difference in the lives of Louisianans.”



Humana also awarded smaller grants on Oct. 15, recognizing the community efforts of the other 2009 Louisiana Benefits finalists, Parkway Partners and the Louisiana Children’s Museum. Parkway Partners received a check for $15,000, and Humana presented the Louisiana Children’s Museum with a check for $5,000.