The North Oaks Board of Commissioners announced the formation of the North Oaks Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to improving health in Tangipahoa and Livingston parishes through philanthropic and advocacy efforts supporting the health system.
A volunteer Board of Directors will govern the non-profit organization and includes: Chairman Guy Recotta Jr., Clerk of Court for the City Court of Hammond; Vice Chairman Alton Lewis, President of First Guaranty Bank; Treasurer Stan Dameron of American Bank and Trust; A.J. Bodker, retired educator, Tangipahoa Parish School System; Cally Berner, Director of Event and Conference Services for Southeastern Louisiana University; John Crain, PhD, President of Southeastern Louisiana University; James Nelson, MD, retired surgeon; Judy Nesser, owner, K-Team Printing and Imaging; and Ann Smith, retired educator, Tangipahoa Parish School System.
“In partnership with contributors, the North Oaks Foundation will provide funding for programs and equipment purchases which may not otherwise be possible for the health system to fund through its operations,” explains Recotta. “Areas of focus to start will include patient and employee assistance programs, acquisition of major equipment and technology, physician recruitment and the establishment of a mobile clinic to bring medical care to patients with transportation challenges. As a patient and a member of the health system’s Board of Commissioners for 12 years—six of which were spent as chairman—I have seen firsthand how hard the staff and physicians work to help keep our community healthy. I am honored to help further their efforts through the foundation.”
The Foundation already has benefitted those in need. The organization collected an astounding $45,000 from North Oaks physicians, employees and vendors to provide assistance to nearly 300 North Oaks team members who lost homes, cars and other belongings during the devastating floods in August 2016.