New Fund Spotlight

The Beverly S. and David F. Schalon Fund

Beverly lived life to the fullest. She was happily married to David for X years before his passing. At one point living in Belgium for three years which sparked her lifelong love of travel.

After losing her husband early in their marriage she remained in Lake Charles and embraced work, volunteering, hosting friends, and travel. She was one of the few women working in the PPG laboratory and embraced every opportunity to travel.

She began her career as a lab technician, advanced to chemist, and later became a quality management professional—earning a second degree in chemistry from McNeese along the way. Born in Starkville, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Lake Charles, and the PPG Lab became her home for 37 years.

Following her retirement, Beverly continued sharing her expertise as a consultant for small companies for another 15 years and she traveled to more than 80 countries.

This Fund was created by Beverly before her passing in December 2024. She designated three entities to receive distributions: Michigan State, where her husband, David, completed his undergraduate studies; LSU, where Beverly earned her degree in Zoology and was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha; and the United Way of Southwest Louisiana, where she generously donated her time. She also included the Community Foundation’s unrestricted fund, ensuring flexibility to address emerging needs in the community as they arise.

Beverly was deeply committed to sustainability and truly understood that for anything to endure long-term, it must be sustainable.

Stickler, differing political views, cats, “lived intentionally”, about sustainability. Has to be sustainable to be attainable. Worked out until some of her last days.