Member Spotlight
Marla and Dennis Stine
What are some of the things about the Marla and Dennis Stine family that people may not know?
Marla and I have four children and eleven grandchildren. We have lived in SWLA all of our lives except for four years where we lived in Baton Rouge while I worked for Governor Buddy Roemer. We both grew up in Sulphur but live in Lake Charles today. We both have deep roots in the area, going back several generations. We love our slow Southern culture and its friendly people. In all our many years of traveling, we have found no better food or hospitality than what our area offers.
Tell us about your family’s traditions of giving and what values guide that.
Our family owns Stine Lumber, and we have donated to local communities and schools in every location we serve. Our first three values as a company are Faith, Family, and Community.
Marla and I have made donations that are geared toward young people and the food-insecure. We have been blessed to have created the Marla and Dennis Stine McNeese scholarship fund for business and education students with financial needs.
Who or what has shaped your sense of gratitude?
Our parents, grandparents, and many cherished friends.
How do you see the connection between giving and leadership? You may have personal examples, as well, in our community.
Leadership is about empowering others, and the best way to do that is by creating a culture of generosity. Leaders who model giving behaviors can instill a culture of generosity. This culture encourages everyone in an organization to contribute in a positive way to their team and community.
At our company, we instituted shortly after Hurricane Rita in 2005 a program called Stine Employees First. The program has been managed by the Baton Rouge Community Foundation, which works with the Community Foundation Southwest Louisiana. Our company endows the program, but we also encourage associates to give a small portion of their pay to support associates that are in need. The fund has been used for associates who have suffered losses due to hurricanes, fire, or other calamities they may face.
Laurie (Marla and Dennis’s daughter) and her family.
What inspires you to partner with the Community Foundation with a Donor-Advised fund and as an Annual Member?
I was honored to be on the Community Foundation of Acadiana board (in Lafayette) and, for a short while, the board of the Community Foundation Southwest Louisiana.
Community Foundations throughout the United States have made incredible contributions to their local communities. Marla and I wish to be members of a flourishing community, and the best way to do that is to give back and be part of an organization that can make outsized contributions to making that possible.
A Donor Advised Fund is the absolute best way to give back to the community. First, your donation is tax-deductible at the time you make the donation to the Donor Advised Fund. At year's end, we simply donate and enjoy the tax benefits for the tax year. We can then request that funds be distributed as we see donation opportunities that fit our wishes. Also, the Community Foundation invests our fund dollars, allowing our fund to grow, giving us even more money to donate.
In what ways are you involving your children in your family’s philanthropy?
Marla and I created, I think, something of a novel idea for our four children. We want our children to understand the importance of giving. They do this on their own, but we wanted to supplement their giving by allowing them to give from our foundation, also.
We set aside 40% of the funds from our foundation so each of our children can participate in the giving. Marla and I receive the tax benefit from donations to 501(C)(3) causes, but they enjoy the benefit of directing the funds to their causes.
As an active supporter of the Just Imagine SWLA 50-Year Resilience Master Plan, how do you see this initiative making a lasting, positive impact on Southwest Louisiana? What would you share with others about the importance of getting involved and helping move this vision forward?
Our area was so incredibly devastated after Hurricane Laura that someone or some group had to step forward and create a way for our community to recreate itself. When you lose 10,000 people due to housing damages which had rippling effects to our K-12 and University system something had to be done.
The Just Imagine project was a lifeline for a community that was on life support. I was honored to play a very small role in the project, and I watched the transformational difference that it made. The ripple effect will go on for years and years and create the flourishing community we deserve.
Much work has been done by the creators of Just Imagine but much work continues. The plan has been established but the work continues. We will begin to celebrate some of its creations this month with the opening of Mid-City Lofts but the project has a long horizon.
Stopping and celebrating is important in viable organizations and is a tenant of strong leadership. Once the celebration is complete, we must recommit ourselves to continue the good work of Just Imagine.