LAFAYETTE, La. - As part of its five-pronged philanthropic mission, Festivals Acadiens et Créoles recently presented a check to the Restore the Roy Effort, which is under renovation as the new home of the Center for Louisiana Studies and UL Press. The $1,000 check from Festivals Acadiens is the first of five planned donations to the house restoration in the same amount over the next five years.
The festival's philanthropic initiatives include music, food, art, language and the beautification of Girard Park, where the festival is held each October. Over the years, Festivals Acadiens et Créoles has assisted people in getting to Sainte Anne in Nova Scotia to learn to speak French, planted fruit trees in Girard Park and donated to Second Harvest Food Bank.
"The Center for Louisiana Studies focuses on four out of five of our initiatives through their day-to-day work," explains Vice President of Programming and Development Patrick Mould. "It only made sense for us to support the restoration of the Roy House as their new home. We encourage other organizations to get involved with this worthwhile endeavor!"
The Roy House is located at the corner of Johnston Street and University Avenue and was built at the turn of the 20th century by prominent Lafayette landowner, businessman and early supporter of UL Lafayette J. Arthur Roy. It is the only UL Lafayette property listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Planned renovations to the home include interior updates, heating and cooling, structural and plumbing repairs, paint, parking and ADA compliant access.
"We are honored to receive this support from Festivals Acadiens et Créoles," says Center for Louisiana Studies Director Dr. Joshua Caffery. "We work hand in glove with the festival every year, and we share an overarching mission of sustaining, cultivating and activating the rich, globally significant cultural traditions of Acadiana. The restoration of the Roy House as a prominent hub for Louisiana Studies
