Jerry Ramsay has for many years been a dedicated supported of the Heymann Performing Arts Center & Frem Boustany Convention Center, Lafayette Catholic Services Center, the Frem. F. Boustany, Sr. Foundation, the UL Lafayette Alumni Association, the Performing Arts Society of Lafayette, the Acadiana Symphony Women’s League, 232-Help, Inc. as well as other causes to which she has given her time and resources.

Richard Zuschlag has dedicated his life to helping the people of Louisiana. His ultimate goal has always been to make Louisiana a better place for people to live, build a career, and raise a family. Richard’s passion for his community lead him to get involved with several charitable organizations and non-profits.

He acted as a past president and board member of 232-HELP, the Louisiana State University Dean’s Advisory Council, the board of trustees for the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Foundation, as well as the ULL Industry Telecommunications Advisory Committee, the board of trustees at Ascension Day School, an advisor to Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Acadiana, publicity chairman for the Lafayette Community Health Care Clinic, and is actively working with the Boy Scouts of America.

Richard nurtures a culture of giving within Acadian Companies. He explains “As a young man, my parents taught me the value of giving one’s time and talents in appreciation for God’s blessings.”

Shirley Covington, MD is a retired internist who has devoted her life to helping others. A member of the 232-HELP Board of Directors for over 47 years, Dr. Covington was president from 1978-1981. She was instrumental in developing the Epilepsy Foundation in 1973. The 232-HELP Tel-Med program, which provided informational tapes on almost any medical topics, was one of Dr. Covington's many projects.

Richard D'Aquin is one of the original founders of the Southwest Louisiana Education & Referral Center (SLERC) which became 232-HELP. Dick served three terms as President of the 232-HELP Board of Directors and was a key player in developing the Daily Advertiser Milk Fund and 232-HELP's HELPLINE. For both programs, 232-HELP identified those in crisis, their stories were published in the Advertiser and funds were collected by 232-HELP to fill each family's needs.

Robert D. Lowe was involved with 232-HELP since the beginning when his wife, Jewell P. Lowe, founded the organization in 1965. Bob served as a 232-HELP board member for over 45 years. He was the co-founder of the Lafayette Association for Retarded Citizens where he served five terms as president. Bob Lowe also founded the New Hope Center, the Alleman Center and Acadian Village (helping fund LARC).

 

Dr. Cromwell has been instrumental in many efforts to provide health care services to those unable to afford them. In 1975, his office was contracted by orthodontist Dr. Jerry Hebert to create the Lake Charles Crippled Children’s Clinic, which later became known as the Handicapped Children’s Clinic of Lake Charles.  The clinic used plastic surgery to help children with unrepaired cleft lips and palates, hemangiomas, giant nevi and thickened scars, and Dr. Cromwell visited patients in Lake Charles regularly for 20 years. Later, in 1976, Dr. Cromwell founded the Lafayette Maxillofacial/Craniofacial Clinic, which treated children with congenital deformities.

In 1993, Dr. Cromwell pioneered the creation of the Lafayette Community Health Care Clinic, which provides medical care for the working poor who have no insurance coverage. He served as Chairman of the Board for over 10 years and volunteered his services to assist the clinic in providing volunteer health care and surgeries as needed.

Dr. Cromwell was named Humanitarian of the Year by the Louisiana Medical Society in 1997, and in 1999, he received the Public Citizen of the Year Award from the National Association of Social Workers, Lafayette Region. Through his life’s work, Dr. Cromwell has exhibited both a deep compassion and a desire to improve the lives of the people of Acadiana.