Member Spotlight
Dinah and John Bradford
You've been part of the Community Foundation’s journey for over a decade— with Dinah as a former board member and you both as annual members since 2014.
What excites you most about the positive impact the Foundation is making through its partnerships and collaboration across Southwest Louisiana?
We are very excited about the direction the Community Foundation has been taking with Sara Judson at its helm as it’s Executive Director. The SWLA Community Foundation has not only defined itself as the driving force behind determining the direction for the future of our community but has also taken command of the “ship” as we accomplish the bold plans charted through the community-wide research and “map” created for the Just Imagine SWLA 50 Year Resilience Plan.
Dinah, during your Board service, you were hands-on as our Community Foundation developed, including serving as Treasurer. Why was that level of involvement important to you, and what did it mean to help shape the Foundation into what it is today?
As lifelong community volunteers as well as through their work experiences in education (as principal of the Cathedral School) and the legal field (as an attorney and partner with Stockwell Sievert Law Firm), the Bradfords have always defined themselves as people of action. Now both retired, they have found “new directions” for their involvement through their Donor Advised Fund with the Community Foundation to support the many “causes that matter” most to them.
You've each been active members of our community both with your professional careers, Dinah, a retired educator and principal of Immaculate Conception Cathedral School, and John, an attorney and partner with Stockwell Sievert Law Firm, as well as each of your volunteer service and leadership.
With those experiences, what inspires you about the Just Imagine SWLA 50 Year Resilience Plan and the positive impact it will make in Southwest Louisiana?
After her retirement, Dinah’s service on the Community Foundation Board with a variety of community leaders and corporate executives, such as Rick Richard, Greg Webb, Phil Earhart, Tom Shearman, Jon Manns, and others, helped to better define the work of the Community Foundation in order to serve our entire community. The new “map” of action created by the Just Imagine Plan truly addresses a wide variety of needs within our city and the overall 5-parish area, engaging many of our citizenry in creating the future of our communities and world.
You and your family have supported charitable causes through a Donor Advised Fund with our Community Foundation. How has that experience helped you be more thoughtful and strategic in your giving?
“As a family of ‘doers’, we have been able to support several ‘causes’ that impact the culture where we live. The ‘map building’ process utilized by the creation of the Just Imagine Plan definitely opened the eyes of our community to so many new potentials yet to be developed within our community, leading to support for projects such as Bayou Greenbelt, Mid-City Development, and Port Wonder.”
Board Chair, Clair Hebert Marceaux and Dinah at the March 23rd Annual Meeting.
At our recent Annual Meeting, Matt Young described the energy in the room as feeling like a “pep rally.” What do you think gave the event a "pep rally" feeling?
The Bradfords are proud to be a part of the positive energy being generated by the works inspired by the Just Imagine SWLA 50 Year Resilience Plan and look forward to continuing the journey throughout this 21st century!