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Ville Platte Mayor Jennifer Vidrine will be the Honorary Chairwoman at the St. Landry-Evangeline United Way Women with Heart Luncheon. (Photo courtesy of St. Landry-Evangeline United Way)

Women with Heart recipients honored at recent luncheon

Luncheon is in its fifth year of honoring and celebrating local ladies

Staff Report

Ville Platte Mayor Jennifer Vidrine will be the event’s Honorary Chairwoman at the St. Landry-Evangeline United Way Women with Heart Luncheon Friday, February 17 at the Opelousas Civic Center.
The Women’s Leadership Council, an affinity group of St. Landry-Evangeline United Way, hosts the annual luncheon. The event is in its fifth year and it serves as a fundraiser for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. The event will also honor one women that exemplifies a philanthropic spirit and has worked hard to bring positive change to her community, from both St. Landry and Evangeline Parishes.
Tickets are $25 and can be purchased on line or by calling the St. Landry-Evangline United Way office at (337) 942-7815.
Vidrine, a Rhodes Scholar has an extensive background in developing and implementing many programs including Evangeline Community Action, Acadiana Alcohol Traffic Accident Prevention Program. She has also won numerous local, state and national awards.
“She is a force to be reckoned with,” Fisher said.
Keynote Speaker will be Bambi Polotzola. Polotzola serves in the administration of Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards as Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Disability Affairs.
Polotzola holds a B.S. in Business Administration (Accounting) and a certification in Special Education from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and a Masters in Educational Leadership from the American College of Education.
She has worked as a classroom teacher in St. Landry Parish schools, as a statewide education facilitator with LSU Health Sciences Center-Human Development Center, as the CFO of a transportation company, and as the Director and COO of Immaculate Heart of Mary Personal Care Services prior to her appointment to the state position.
As part of her advocacy, civic activity and professional responsibilities, Polotzola has given presentations on both state and national levels. She recently was the recipient of the 2016 Kathleen Blanco Excellence in Leadership Award and the 2016 Families Helping Families Champion of Community Service Award.
“We are proud to call her one of our own as she is a founding member of the St. Landry-Evangeline Women’s Leadership Council,” Fisher said.
The luncheon will also feature a “Power of the Purse” Auction, with money raised going to the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. Last year the Council donated $6,000 to DPIL with money raised from the event.
“However, the main purpose of this prestigious event is to honor two amazing women from St. Landry and Evangeline parishes who have exemplified a philanthropic spirit and have helped to make a positive difference in their communities they live in,” Fisher said.
She continued, “This has become an event that ladies look forward to year round.”
For more information, contact Susan Fisher at sfisher2011@att.net

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