Board Member Spotlight

Lee Boyer

Tell me about yourself, your family, and your connection to Southwest Louisiana.

I am 65 years old and retired from the practice of law with Stockwell Sievert about two years ago. Lake Charles has been my and my family’s home going back five generations. Lake Charles will always be my home and have a special place in my heart.

How did you learn about the Community Foundation of  Southwest Louisiana?

I learned about the Community Foundation from my friend, Brent Lumpkin, who was a former board member. He told me about all of the good civic projects they were involved in and I knew then that I wanted to be a part of this organization.

Tell us about your involvement with Bayou Greenbelt.  What makes you enthusiastic about this project that will connect the waterways around the city of Lake Charles? 

I believe that Bayou Greenbelt will help put Southwest Louisiana on the map. It has so many benefits, not only from a recreational standpoint, but from a tourism, drainage, and aesthetic standpoint as well. In my travels, I’ve noticed a lot of the cities that I’ve been to have similar features and I think it will go a long way to help keep some of Southwest Louisiana‘s best and brightest at home.

I understand that you are the inspiration behind the Wheels of Hope bike race that benefits the St. Nicholas Center. What motivated you to dedicate your time and energy to making this a reality?

The Saint Nicolas Center is one of my favorite charities. When I put together Wheels Of Hope, they were working upstairs in the older building in downtown Lake Charles. They needed some help and I wanted to become more involved. We have now done it for the past 11 years and it is still a lot of fun cooking for everybody! A great family event.

What family and personal values led you to create a Donor Advised Fund with the Community Foundation?  How does this impact your charitable giving?

We created a donor-advised fund because it allows you to get more bang for the buck. When you donate appreciated stock, and don’t have to pay taxes on it and it gives you additional funds to donate to your favorite charities. Also, it’s very user-friendly!