Grantmakers in the News

The Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation was established to help provide assistance to Louisiana citizens in need through a network of Louisiana charities, non-profit and governmental agencies. The Foundation is also designed to support long-term family restoration and recovery by focusing on education, housing, health care, legal assistance and jobs for Louisiana families whose lives have been altered by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

The Board of Directors of the Foundation recently elected Ambassador James Joseph as its new Chair. Sherece West was named as the Foundation's managing director.

"We are fortunate to be able to secure a native son with sterling diplomatic service credentials for our nation. Dr. Joseph is also a leader in philanthropy and will bring valuable experience to creating and sustaining this important recovery fund for Louisiana's people. He has a proven knowledge of Louisiana and a history of community service alongside his many accomplishments," stated Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco.

"Sherece West has a well established track record as a community leader and public servant. Combined with her current work in Louisiana and her foundation background, the State of Louisiana will be well served by her talent and experience," said Governor Blanco.

Ambassador Joseph was born in Opelousas, LA and graduated from Southern University and Yale. He has had a distinguished career in government, business, philanthropy and education. He currently heads the United States - South Africa Center for Leadership and Public Values that he founded at both Duke University and the University of Cape Town. Prior to this, he served under four U.S. Presidents, most recently as United States Ambassador to South Africa.

Ambassador Joseph spent fourteen years as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Council on Foundations, an international association of foundations and corporate giving programs whose members have more than $200 billion in assets. From 1996-2000, he served as Ambassador to South Africa in the Clinton Administration, where he was the first and only American Ambassador to present his credentials to President Nelson Mandela. He succeeds Xavier University President Norman Francis, who was tapped by Governor Blanco to head the state's disaster recovery authority.

In accepting the board's invitation to serve as Chair, Ambassador Joseph said, "I am delighted to be able to serve my home state of Louisiana in this way. I look forward to using my years of experience in government and philanthropy to help transform the disaster that hit the state into unprecedented opportunity."

Sherece West brings to the organization over 15 years experience in community service. Currently, West is the president and chief executive officer of the Carrier Foundation, a newly formed family foundation dedicated to improving the life chances of disadvantaged children and families primarily in Southwest Louisiana. Formerly, West served at the Annie E. Casey Foundation and spent 13 years with the Rebuilding Communities Initiative, which focused on community development and affordable housing. She succeeds loaned executive Dr. Emmett Carson of the Minneapolis Foundation, who will serve as a national advisor.