Landrys named honorees for Philanthropy Award

Community Foundation of Acadiana (CFA) and Hancock Whitney Bank are pleased to announce the 2021 Leaders in Philanthropy Award honorees for Vermilion Parish, John T. and Sandra B. Landry.
John T. and Sandra B. Landry are lifelong residents of Vermilion parish. John T. was a successful auto dealer and Sandra taught 1st grade for 32 years in the Vermilion Parish Public School System.
They are very active in their community supporting causes near and dear to their hearts such as Palmetto State Park, St. Theresa Catholic Church, and the University of Louisiana. Additionally, they have set up endowment funds to support the B.I. Moody III College of Business, St. Theresa Catholic Church, and an endowment to support nonprofits in Vermilion Parish through the Vermilion Foundation. The Landry’s have also established a significant planned gift to benefit Our Lady of the Oaks Retreat House in Grand Coteau.
“John T. and Sandra have an impressive list of statewide and community activities in the civic and religious arena. They believe in giving back to their community and their philanthropy has truly made a difference in the Vermilion Parish.” - Charles Sonnier, Vermilion Foundation Advisory Board member.
John T. previously served as the Director of Development at University of Louisiana at Lafayette. During his tenure the gifted assets of the university grew from $19 million to $130 million.
For his fundraising efforts, John T. received the Top Fundraiser of the Year Award for the state of Louisiana from the Baton Rouge Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
Leaders In Philanthropy Awards are presented annually to outstanding individuals, couples, and corporations who have supported nonprofit organizations, churches, and schools through charitable giving and/or philanthropic work.
Individuals and couples are selected from each of the eight parishes of Community Foundation of Acadiana’s (CFA) primary service area which includes Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, and Vermilion Parishes.

CFA welcomes nominations from the general public at www.cfacadiana.org/lip. Nominees need not be donors or have a Fund at CFA. CFA’s Past Board Members consider nominations and submit their recommendations to the CFA Board of Directors for final approval, including those proposed by any Parish Affiliate Advisory Board.

Community Foundation of Acadiana’s core purpose is to build legacies and improve communities by connecting generous people to the causes they care about. CFA has realized more than $317 million in philanthropic activities since inception in 2000 and currently has assets of more than $187 million. CFA’s donor-directed grant distributions now exceed $165 million. While donors are not limited geographically, CFA’s primary service area includes the parishes of Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, and Vermilion. CFA is the third largest community foundation in the state and expects to soon be included in the Top 100 U.S. community foundations by assets. These important milestones ensure CFA’s position as one of Louisiana’s premier philanthropic organizations.