September 2017 - In This Issue:
WORKING TOGETHER FOR HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES
Since its creation in 1994, The Rapides Foundation has sought to improve the health status of Central Louisiana by developing initiatives and strategies intended to impact our community for decades to come.  We invite you to learn more about our work by visiting our website.

The Rapides Foundation focuses its work in three strategic areas:

Healthy People, to improve access to healthcare and promote healthy behaviors.

Education, to increase the level of educational attainment and achievement as the primary path to improved economic, social and health status.

Healthy Communities, to improve economic opportunity and family income, and enhance civic and community opportunities for more effective leaders and organizations.

Contact Us

The Rapides Foundation
1101 Fourth Street, Suite 300
Alexandria, Louisiana 71301
318-443-3394 or 800-994-3394

Visit our website:

ACCLAIMED AUTHOR WES MOORE DELIVERS MESSAGE OF HOPE TO 4,200 IN CENLA
Moore was featured speaker at The Rapides Foundation's 2017 Symposium
The Rapides Foundation brought acclaimed author Wes Moore to Central Louisiana for its fourth annual Symposium on September 6. 

Moore, a Rhodes scholar, decorated Army combat veteran, youth advocate and CEO of Robin Hood Foundation, spoke about the transformative power of education and leadership and its impact on improving our community. He first brought his message to 3,500 school students at a morning event at the Rapides Parish Coliseum and then spoke before a group of 675 community members at the Riverfront Center. 

The Symposium focuses on a topic of importance to Central Louisiana and is presented each September as a way of celebrating the anniversary of the Foundation's creation in September 1994. The focus of the 2017 Symposium was Transforming Communities.
 
2016 ANNUAL REPORT AVAILABLE
Learn about the work being done in support of the Foundation's mission to improve the health status of Central Louisiana
The Rapides Foundation's 2016 Annual Report is available.  The theme of the Annual Report is "Moving the Needle on Health." 

Improving health status can be generational work, but by being results-oriented and committed to continuous improvement, the Foundation has sought to move the needle in the right direction. In the Annual Report, you'll see examples of ways the Foundation worked to improve health throughout the year.    

CDW ANNOUNCES FALL 2017 TRAINING CALENDAR
Free workshops and webinars are available
Community Development Works, a program of The Rapides Foundation, is offering free skill-building training for Cenla residents and nonprofit organizations. 

Workshops and webinars began in September and include a variety of topics including fund development, evaluation, community engagement and grant writing. 

All workshops and webinars are available free of charge. The trainings are geared toward nonprofit staff, board members, volunteers, and people interested in starting a nonprofit. Training offerings are presented within four topic areas: Start-up Series for Nonprofits; Grant Writing Series; Evaluation Series; and Community Engagement Series. Participants are not required to attend all of the training courses in a series. Individuals can customize their learning by choosing topics that interest them.

To register or for a complete list of training offerings, call CDW at 1-800-803-8075, or visit www.communitydevelopmentworks.org.  

Joe Rosier

Mission
The mission of The Rapides Foundation is to improve the health status of Central Louisiana. 

Vision
Our vision is to positively impact Central Louisiana by deploying resources to improve key factors of health status.