Why Can't We?

When first approached to contribute to this article, we were a little uncomfortable sharing our personal views with the world, so to speak. After much prayer and discussion, we decided that if even one person is positively influenced by the article, our discomfort will be worthwhile.

Although we grew up in different cities, there were many similarities in the way we were both raised. Our parents, through their example, were instrumental in the development of our faith and our desire to help others in whatever way we can. We never missed Sunday Mass or Holy Days of Obligation. Girls wore dresses, and boys wore coats and ties. This is a reverence we wish we saw more of today. In the community, our parents were involved in volunteering, and on an individual basis, they took time to help those in need. These lessons have been an influence throughout our lives.

Shortly after moving to Houma, we began to take mission trips to Granada, Nicaragua. In 2008 we began working with the Haiti Mission, traveling to Jeremie, Haiti, where living conditions were even more difficult than in Nicaragua. We continue to support the Haiti Mission because we have seen firsthand the improved quality of life that occurs when a community has wells for drinking water and houses to replace shanties. It is very humbling to compare how we live in the United States and how our brothers and sisters struggle in a third world country. It is only by the grace of God that we were born in the United States when we could just as easily have been born in Haiti. Our trips have had an immense impact on our desire to give to those in need both at home and abroad.

Our first real experience with endowed funds began around 1990. The Council for a Better Louisiana made a presentation to members of the Chamber of Commerce explaining how an endowed fund, dedicated to public education, is beneficial to a community. To encourage the establishment of such a fund, Community Coffee was offering a matching grant as seed money.

Several business leaders discussed the value and possibilities of establishing an endowed fund. The Rotary Club of Houma was approached to provide the initial funds to take advantage of the Community Coffee grant. The club members agreed, and the Terrebonne Foundation for Academic Excellence Fund was established. The purpose of the fund is to provide a permanent source of funding that goes directly to classroom teachers in support of creative learning grants. Beginning in 1999, Yolanda served as Executive Director of the foundation for fifteen years.

After retiring, Yolanda became involved with the Mother Teresa Women's Giving Circle and actively participates today. We were both impressed by how much support the Women's Giving Circle provided to so many local organizations, many of which we also support. When the St. Maximilian Kolbe Society was established to support our seminarians, Ken eagerly joined. Over time, we began to learn more and more about the many different entities served by the Catholic Foundation of South Louisiana.

We have always had a desire to help our priests and seminarians, so we always participated in the Annual Bishop's Appeal but did not feel like our small contribution went very far in the big scheme of things. In the CFSL annual report, we saw the many endowed funds dedicated to a specific purpose, and the lightbulb went off. Even knowing for many years the value of an endowed fund, it did not occur to us that we could establish our own fund. This was the kind of thing done by people who are much wealthier than we are. Then, the soul searching began. We had to ask ourselves, "Why can't we do something, even if it is small?" The answer was, "Yes, we can."

The process was easy. Fill out a few forms with CFSL and it's done. We now have a perpetual fund to support our diocesan retired priests and the education of seminarians, which is important to us because if we have no priests, we have no Eucharist. Our goal is to make annual donations to our fund, and we encourage friends and family to use our fund for Memorials and Honorariums. As we were influenced by our parents, we hope that our example may encourage others to share the abundant gifts God has bestowed on everyone.

To learn how to get involved with the Catholic Foundation of South Louisiana, visit catholicfoundationsl.org or contact Amy Ponson at [email protected].

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Ken and Yolanda Trahan reside in Houma, where they have been active parishioners of Maria Immacolata for 20 years. Together they serve on the St. Vincent de Paul committee, among other ministries across the diocese. They are proud parents of Kimberly and grandparents to three.