The AED Network of Central Louisiana celebrated its 10th anniversary Friday, Feb. 29, by honoring people involved in the project as well as the nine people alive today because of it. The “Celebrating An Extra Day” luncheon was intentionally held on Leap Year Day, Board Chairman Lee Weems said. “Leap Day is an extra day of the year. An Extra Day of Life was given to the survivors because of trained responders, appropriate equipment and a caring community.”

The grandson of tobacco-company founder R.J. Reynolds was in Alexandria Jan. 9 to warn the public of the dangers of tobacco use. Patrick Reynolds is one of the nation’s top champions of a smoke-free society. After watching his father and brother die from cigarette-induced emphysema and lung cancer, Reynolds in 1986 decided to speak out against the industry his family helped build.

The Rapides Foundation’s guidelines reflect a bold direction to address the issues that are critical to improving the health status of Central Louisiana residents. To view the new guidelines, please visit our Grant Info section or refer to the documents Program and Funding Interests and Applying for Funds. 

A new campaign will give moms the ammunition they need to encourage their adult children to move back home – a list of job opportunities and salaries in Central Louisiana.

School superintendents and School Board members from eight Central Louisiana parishes were brought together November 17-18 for a first-of-its-kind education reform conference. The Rapides Foundation, in partnership with The Orchard Foundation, presented the two-day conference – “Why Boards Matter – Building the Bridge to Effective Change." It focused on high school reform and was designed to help School Board members and superintendents understand their important and unique roles when it comes to effective change in their school districts.