United Way Honors Women
BOBBY ARDOIN
St. Landry Now.com Editor
As Madelyn Rosette and Sahari Sawtelle accepted their Evangeline-St. Landry United Way Women With Heart awards on Friday afternoon, both of them acknowledged the assistance they received for the numerous civic-minded projects they have undertaken
Rosette and Sawtelle told the large noon-day crowd at the Louisiana Equine Sales & Events Center that their personal religious faiths have also played significant roles as they spearhead community involvement projects involving youths and adults.
Opelousas native Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America, was the guest speaker for the event whose proceeds will help support the Dolly Parton Reading Library, the major two-parish reading initiative which has been a major United Way project in each parish.
The United Way Board of Directors presented outgoing executive director Ginger LeCompte with a commemorative award.
Madelyn Rosette
Rosette, who serves as the executive director for CASA Evangeline-St. Landry, compared her project-support to a five-player basketball team with a sixth player who is available in reserve.
Each of the five “players” and “sixth person” have provided different support mechanisms for her, Rosette said, as she has navigated life as a single mother who was raised by a grandmother.
“I’ve had different people in my corner all along the way. They have been there for me to understand and prepare me when I didn’t really understand myself,” Rosette said.
Among the duties Rosette performs as the head of CASA are investigating sexual assaults and serving as an advocate for vulnerable children and families.
Sarahi Sawtelle
Although she didn’t speak English 30 years ago when she arrived in the United States, Satelle has been active in numerous outreach activities involving the homeless, military veterans, and other civic projects in the Ville Platte area.
Throughout her American assimilation process, Sawtelle said she has been guided by her religion.
That process has enabled her, Sawtelle said, to build relationships in her community and provide spiritual guidance to those who need it.
Claire Babineaux-Fontenot
Babineaux-Fontenot said she eventually moved away from her childhood behaviors that she said were sometimes “bratty and self-centered,” to embracing a life where she has worked hard to be a change-maker who helps others.
Growing up in Opelousas in a large family, Babineaux-Fontenot said she learned about the problems that her siblings were experiencing and those perceptions she said, also helped her understand the issues that she now tries to mitigate.
“I learned about the barriers of some of the children. I also learned about what it meant to work hard and the power of family,” said Babineaux-Fontdenot who received the key to the city from Opelousas Mayor Julius Alsandor.
Alsandor praised Babineaux-Fontenot for her global relief efforts as well as supporting the Dolly Parton Library initiative supported by the United Way.
