49th CAA annual committee meeting celebrates agency

Friday was a night of celebration during the St. Mary-Vermilion Community Action Agency’s 49th Annual Committee Meeting, as the agency highlighted accomplishments and honored Head Start parents and volunteers.
This year’s theme was “Changing with the Times.” The event, held at The Pavilion at Cypress Bayou Casino, included a Parent of the Year award to one person from each of the agency’s 13 Head Start centers, as well as a Father of the Year award. The agency also crowned a new Mr. and Ms. CAA 2016.
The evening began with a host of greetings from board members, policy council, city officials and other community leaders. CAA officials say the number of community partners who attended gave a clear indication that St. Mary CAA is a community driven organization that thrives off the success of staff members, the community, and those who support the vision and goals of the agency.
The agency, with the assistance of four eloquent speakers, presented the “State of Agency Address.” Angela Gray, President of the Delta, Franklin-Jeanerette Alumnae Chapter, presented program statistics; KBZE President Howard Castay presented program progress; St. Mary CAA Staff Tawanna Colbert, presented program goals/challenges; and Reverend Craig Matthews, St. Mary Parish Councilman, presented the staff dommitment.
The crowning of the new 2016 King and M2016 Queen concluded with Mark Dixon, a Mickey Mouse Head Start parent, named Mr. CAA 2016, and Ka’Lynn K. Hurst, Head Start Family Service worker, crowned Ms. CAA 2016.
Mr. and Ms. CAA runners-up were Remona Ray Fusilier and Cornelius C. Stewart III.
CEO Almetra J. Franklin expressed gratitude for the turnout. “We want them to know how important they are to the continued success of this agency and this entire community,” she said.
Franklin also voiced appreciation to the 13 table sponsors and the people who bought over 100 ads for the agency’s souvenir book. She gave special thanks to the Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana, the Platinum Sponsor for the event, and to Cypress Bayou Casino and Hotel for its efforts in making the event a night to remember.
The agency’s Father of the year was Jason Lewis Jr. of Baby Bear Head Start Center.
Winners for parents of the Year were:
Baby Bear Head Start Center: Chalon Maize
Bambi Head Start Center: Ramona Smith
Snow White Head Start Center: Merlinda Burgess
Cinderella Head Start Center: Ronata Pilate
Mickey Mouse Head Start Center: Mark Dixon
Tweety Bird Head Start Center: George Norman
Yogi Bear Head Start Center: Pam Benoit
Winnie the Pooh Head Start Center: Anh Luan Nguyen
Peter Pan Head Start Center: Daffaney Wagner
Little Einstein Head Start Center: Brandon LeBlanc
Country Bear Head Start Center: Cody Reed
Honey Bear Head Start Center: LaKiesha Hickman
Precious Moments Head Start Center: Crystal Harris