History of the Foundation

The Calcasieu Parish Library Board and Administration began discussing the idea of a library foundation in 2004, when the Library received the proceeds from the sale of a donated property.  Thereafter information from the State Library and existing library foundations was presented to the Board.  In early 2006, the “seed fund” held in trust by the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury was enlarged by a significant donation from the DeBakey Medical Foundation, after which the Board agreed to name the Central Library Meeting Room after the parents of Dr. Michael E. DeBakey.  Then, in late 2006, the Board appointed members Joyce Buttross, Mary Frohn, and Anthony Zaunbrecher to serve as an ad hoc Foundation Committee, and to work with outgoing Board Member, Chad Thielen, who agreed to serve as the first Chairman of the new Board of Directors of the Library Foundation.

In 2007, the Committee drafted Articles of Incorporation for submission to the Secretary of the State of Louisiana.  An initial foundation board of seven members was formed, with Mr. Thielen as Chairman.  Official by-laws were adopted by the Foundation on September 18, 2008.  The Chairman and initial members then began the process of selecting additional members to reach a total of twelve members.  At their April 7 meeting, officers were elected as follows:  Chad Thielen, President; Joyce Buttross, Vice President;  Donna Richard, recording Secretary;  Charles Viccellio, Corresponding Secretary;  and Robert Gani, Treasurer.  The remaining members who accepted terms of service were Frank Pruitt, Buddy Bolton, Gary Cooper, Nina Vincent, Laura Leach, Nancy Tower, and Charles Timpa.