2004 LBF’s Annual Fellows Breakfast

The Louisiana Bar Foundation (LBF) held the Annual Fellows Breakfast on June 10 in Sandestin, Florida. Inducted by Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. was David F. Bienvenu as the 11 th President, Donna D. Fraiche as Vice President, and John “Jock” W. Scott as Secretary-Treasurer of the Board of Directors for 2004-05.

A civil litigation lawyer, Mr. Bienvenu is a partner with Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn in New Orleans. He is a Charter Fellow of the Foundation and has been a member since 1986. In 1996-97, Mr. Bienvenu served as President of the Louisiana State Bar Association, where he is credited with the establishment of the Access to Justice Program. He is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, and a member of the New Orleans Bar Association and American Bar Association, where he serves as Louisiana’s State Delegate.

Ms. Fraiche, a shareholder and member of the health care and public policy departments in the New Orleans office of the law firm of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, became a Fellow of the Foundation in 1989. She served as the Secretary-Treasurer from 2003-04 and has been a member of the Board of Directors since 2000. Ms. Fraiche served as Chair of the IOLTA Administration Committee and was a member of the Executive and Strategic Planning Committees.

An Assistant Professor of History at LSU Alexandria and a Sole Practitioner, Scott has been a Fellow of the Foundation since 1989. Serving as the liaison to the Education Committee, he has been a member of the Board of Directors since 2001.

John Swift, LBF’s out going president, presented awards to Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans, Garner J. “Gary” Knoepfler, Jr., CPCU, and Marilyn C. Maloney.

Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans received the LBF’s 2004 Grantee Award for Excellence in Service and Programming for Project SAVE (Stopping Abuse through Victim Empowerment). The award recognizes a grantee for an innovative, imaginative program and/or public service in the legal arena. Project SAVE exclusively offers emergency civil legal representation to victims of domestic violence in Orleans Parish. Executive Director Theresa Marchese was in attendance at the meeting and accepted the award on behalf of the organization.

Mr. Knoepfler was awarded the LBF Hornblower Award in recognition of his outstanding support, dedication and volunteer service to LBF’s Kids’ Chance of Louisiana Program which he brought to Louisiana. This program is designed to help students of permanently or catastrophically injured or deceased workers to complete their education.

Ms. Maloney was presented the LBF’s 2004 President’s Award for her dedication and commitment to the organization, volunteer service, leadership role in major LBF accomplishments, willingness to volunteer for new projects and assistance to the President in addressing concerns facing the LBF.

Other members of the 2004-05 Board of Directors include: Hon. Michael G. Bagneris of New Orleans, Elwood F. Cahill, Jr. of New Orleans, Thomas A. Casey, Jr. of New Orleans, Hon. Eldon E. Fallon of New Orleans, Calvin C. Fayard, Jr. of Denham Springs, Marcel Garsaud, Jr. of New Orleans, Cyrus J. Greco of Baton Rouge, Harry S. Hardin III of New Orleans, Suzanne M. Jones of Covington, Wayne J. Lee of New Orleans, Marilyn C. Maloney of New Orleans, Hon. C. Wendell Manning of Monroe, Michael W. McKay of Baton Rouge, Frank X. Neuner, Jr. of Lafayette, Joseph R. Oelkers III of Lafayette, Patrick S. Ottinger of Lafayette, Drew A. Ranier of Lake Charles, Garland R. Rolling of Metairie, Hon. John B. Scofield of Lake Charles, E. Wade Shows of Baton Rouge, Monique L. Svenson of New Orleans, John G. Swift of Lafayette, Henry C. Walker of Shreveport, and Paul W. Wright of Houston, Texas

The LBF is a charitable organization existing to preserve, honor and improve our system of justice by funding, developing or otherwise promoting efforts which enhance the legal profession, increase public understanding of the legal system and advance the reality of equal justice under the law. Since 1989, the Foundation has awarded more than $25 million in grants to Louisiana nonprofit organizations which provide legal services, law-related education and assist in the administration of justice.