Local United Way named finalist for honor

LAFAYETTE — The United Way of Acadiana was recognized as a finalist for the United Way Common Good Awards at the United Way Community Leaders Conference in Nashville for its work with the Lafayette Parish Public Education Stakeholders Council, the organization announced in a news release Monday.

The inaugural Common Good Awards, created for the 125th anniversary of United Way, highlighted coalitions that are creating communitywide change in education, income and health, with 62 organizations recognized, the release said.

The Lafayette Parish Public Education Stakeholders Council is a nonprofit advocacy group of civic and business organizations with a specific goal of helping to reduce the achievement gap in local public schools.

The coalition’s work “has captured the attention of people outside Acadiana,” said Margaret Trahan, United Way of Acadiana president and CEO, in a news release. Trahan also is the organization’s chairwoman.

“United Way of Acadiana scored in the top tier of a highly competitive pool,” said Peter Hahn, vice president of national engagement at United Way Worldwide. “These collaborations are the ones to watch.”

The selection committee included: Arlene Holt Baker, executive vice president, AFL-CIO; John Bridgeland, CEO, Civic Enterprises; Jon Campbell, executive vice president, director of Social Responsibility Group, Wells Fargo; Brian Long, chairman, United Way Australia; James Marks, senior vice president and director, Health Group, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; Flavia Pansieri, executive coordinator, U.N. Volunteers; and Patty Stonesifer, chairwoman, White House Council for Community Solutions.