Member Spotlight

Christy and Joey Jarreau

Tell us about the Jarreau family and some things you’ve enjoyed about raising a family in Southwest Louisiana.  

Christi is originally from Lake Charles.  When we decided to start a family, we considered many options and decided Southwest Louisiana was the right place for us.  The benefits of being around our family in a smaller city with great neighborhoods, good schools and lots entertainment and outdoor options made it ideal.   Since that time, we have been so fortunate to see the continued transformation of Southwest Louisiana.  It has been a joy to see our children grow up in and with the area.  

With Christi’s experience as an educator and principal, and Joey’s role as a local business owner, what has motivated you both to involve your teams in giving back to the community—and how have your experiences in service, volunteering, and philanthropy shaped the traits and values you carry today? 

We’ve always found deep joy in serving others and giving back to our community. We've worked to instill in our children a strong sense of responsibility to share their time, talent, and resources with those in need. As an educator/administrator in a Catholic school, Christi was surrounded by a team that shared this philosophy. 

Alongside teachers and administrators, students engaged in age-appropriate service projects that offered them meaningful opportunities to help others.  This standard of nurturing the next generation of servant leaders in our community was one of the many reasons we chose Catholic education for our family.

As a partner in a small business, Joey and his partners believe Southside Machine Works has thrived for over 45 years thanks to the support of Southwest Louisiana. In turn, we strive to give back—partnering with employees, customers, vendors, and community organizations to support the region that has given us so much. While we enjoy participating in local festivals and events, what we’re most proud of is supporting the organizations that do the hard work of making Southwest Louisiana a better place for everyone.

You and Christi decided to have a Donor Advised Fund with the Foundation several years ago.  What inspired you to make that happen and how does that support your family’s giving?  

We established a donor-advised fund at the Community Foundation to be more intentional with our giving. This fund allows us to make regular donations while also setting aside resources to ensure our values and commitments continue beyond our lifetime. The simplicity of setting up, contributing to, and distributing funds has been an added benefit of our partnership with the Community Foundation.

As annual members of the Foundation, you have been engaged in the progress of the Just Imagine SWLA master plan.  What are some of the projects that encourage you about our region’s future?   

As individual and corporate members of the Foundation, we have had the opportunity to participate in and monitor the progress of the Just Imaging Master Plan.  How many times do we hear about “a plan” that never comes to fruition?  The Community Foundation and its partners have done amazing work to keep these projects moving forward. 

All the projects have such an incredible ability to make Southwest Louisiana the place to be.  There are two projects that we are most excited about.  The first is the mixed-income housing Mid-City Neighborhood Transformation Project.  For our area to be the best it can be, we absolutely have to be able to provide affordable, safe housing for all our citizens.  This is an unbelievable chance to reinvigorate the mid-city area.  This can not only transform a neighborhood but also transform the lives of many of the residents from that area who will be able to return once the project is complete. 

Another project we are really excited about is the Bayou Greenbelt Project.  Not only does it take the natural resources we have and turn them into a phenomenal sports and entertainment option, but it also shows that transformational change really does start at the grassroots level.

Outside of these two projects we were most excited about the recent Jeff Speck presentation on walkability of cities.  It was refreshing to hear him talk about how many good things the city of Lake Charles has going for it.  Living on the edge of downtown, we enjoy the time we spend in the restaurants and entertainment venues downtown.  Additional focus on the walkability and bikeability of the area is important to us. 

Projects like the Sallier refurbishment and Contraband Bayou Bridge have us headed in the right direction.  Mr. Speck also had great things to say about the planned convention center and amphitheater project.  We are hopeful our new city administration will see this project through.  Just Imagine has given us the opportunity to think big and out of the box.  We hope we can continue to build on that momentum.