Lafayette, LA (April 17, 2013) – The George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts (GRFA) and Capital One Bank today announced a $72,000 donation to support education and arts programs in Louisiana. The donation includes $41,500 to GRFA programs and $30,500 to non-profit organizations in Southwest Louisiana that align with Capital One Bank’s focus areas, supporting literacy, educational resources for teachers in high-need schools and financial education.
Funded by proceeds from the recent auction of an original George Rodrigue Blue Dog painting, 11 Lafayette area schools and multiple local non-profits will benefit from the donation.
GRFA agreed to auction off the painting after Capital One Bank donated a Festival Acadiens 1983 poster painted by Rodrigue to the foundation. The classic poster had been displayed in the Vermilion Street location of Capital One Bank since the 1980s.
The $41,500 donation to GRFA programs includes:
• $16,500 for the George’s Art Closet program at 11 local schools.
• $25,000 to underwrite the school fee for a Lafayette-area A+ school during the 2014-15 school year. The school will be determined through a selection process by GRFA next spring.
The $30,500 donation to non-profit partners in Southwest Louisiana that align with Capital One Bank’s focus areas includes:
• $10,000 for The Reading Clinic at University of Louisiana at Lafayette. As a major component of the Reading Center, the clinic provides individualized literacy instruction to students at area schools. The financial donation will be paired with a book donation for participating students.
• $10,000 for Junior Achievement of Baton Rouge and Acadiana. The donation will be designated to financial literacy programs in Acadiana.
• $10,500 for the Lafayette Education Foundation (LEF). The donation will be designated to LEF’s Teacher Grant program that rewards innovative and exceptional classroom strategies for learning.
“With the help of community partners like Capital One Bank, we’re able to work through George’s Art Closet to bring valuable art supplies into the classroom,” says George Rodrigue. “Though this is something many schools in Louisiana lack basic funding for, we’re able help these classrooms become innovative learning environments.”
“Through an approach called ‘Investing for Good,’ Capital One Bank works to generate lasting, local community impact through our delivery of core banking services and specialized community development, philanthropic and volunteer support. As part of this work, we’re proud to work with the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts to support educational initiatives throughout southwest Louisiana,” said Michael Wack, Capital One Bank’s Southwest Louisiana Market President.