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FOUNDATION FOR WELLNESS

Our History

A Legacy of Woman’s Foundation

Foundation for Wellness Timeline

OUR LEGACY

In 1979 a group of local physicians recognized the need for a specialty hospital dedicated to women’s health in the Lafayette community. Understanding this need, the Frem F. Boustany, Sr. Foundation donated approximately fifteen acres of property for that hospital. Foundation for Wellness was originally formed to accept this donation and oversee that property. For over forty years, annual revenue received through ownership of the donated property has allowed Foundation for Wellness to seamlessly support women and their families by providing a resource of health and wellness education to physicians and community members.

All of this, of course, was made possible by the generous donation from the Frem F. Boustany, Sr. family who started it all.

1979-1980
Formerly Woman’s Foundation Inc. was created to manage 15 acres of donated land and oversee the construction of a hospital.
1979-1980
1983
Women’s & Children’s Hospital was completed.
1983
1984
The Foundation is accredited by the Louisiana State Medical Society as an approved provider of Continuing Medical Educational (CME) programs for physicians.
1984
1987
The Foundation opened the Health Information Center (HIC), a library of over 500 videotapes and pamphlets on various health and wellness topics, available to the public at no charge.
1987
1988
A regional grants program was established to award programs and initiatives which serve to enhance the health and quality of life for women and children, as well as those who support the family unit.
1988
1988
The Foundation established a ULL & LSU-E Nursing Scholarship Program in December.
1988
1989
The initial scholarship award was made.
1989
2002
The Foundation began sponsoring the annual week-long Women’s Health Expo.
2002
2004
The community based Healthy Lifestyle Coalition was created.
2004
2004
Newborn Exhibit at Women’s & Children’s Hospital opened where proceeds from sales of commemorative fish tiles support the Foundation’s Community Education Programs.
2004
2005
The Foundation was named “Outstanding Philanthropic Organization” by the Planned Giving Council of Acadiana.
2005
2011
Health Information Center was closed.
2011
2011
The Foundation's Regional Grants Program closed.
2011
2011
The Foundation partnered with UL Lafayette and Women’s & Children’s Hospital to create a pediatric weight management program to address increasing rates of diabetes in children.
2011
2011
The Foundation was recognized by the University of Louisiana at Lafayette for the Frem F. Boustany Jr., MD Memorial Endowed Nursing Scholarship at the Distinguished Donors reception.
2011
2013
The Foundation was recognized by the Lafayette Commission on the Needs of Women with the Program of Excellence Award.
2013
2014
The Grants Committee was reinstated with a focus of providing funds to organizations that address domestic violence.
2014
2016
The Foundation supports teachers in Lafayette parish by sponsoring GoNoodle, a tool used in the classroom to engage students in physical activity.
2016
2018
The Parenting in Acadiana podcast was launched in an effort to provide helpful, educational support to parents that is easily accessible.
2018
2018
The Foundation launched Healthy Acadiana, a community-wide coalition created to build a healthier Acadiana by providing improved social, economic and physical environmental factors that contribute to a healthier mind, body and spirit for our residents.
2018
2019
The Foundation began a partnership with Louisiana Department of Health, Offices of Public Health and Behavioral Health to provide accredited education to healthcare professionals in an effort to address the opioid crisis in Louisiana.
2019
2019
The Foundation launched online CME courses.
2019
2019
Healthy Acadiana unveiled the Go, Slow, Whoa exhibit at the Children’s Museum of Acadiana to promote healthy eating habits to children and families.
2019
2020
The Foundation launched its first marketing campaign to raise awareness with college-aged individuals about the risk of sexually transmitted diseases and infections.
2020
2020/2021
The Foundation continued to deliver health education to both youth and families as well as healthcare professionals while navigating the challenges of an unprecedented public health crisis.
2020/2021
2022
The Foundation was welcomed into the Diabetes Prevention Recognition Program by the CDC.
2022
2022
The Foundation moved its accreditation to the national accrediting body – Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME)
2022
2023
The Board of Directors voted in favor of renaming the organization to Foundation for Wellness at the Annual Board Meeting.
2023
2023
Foundation for Wellness supported Healthy Acadiana in opening Lafayette’s first Seed Library at the Main Branch of the Lafayette Public Library.
2023
Today
The Foundation is governed by a volunteer board of directors, comprised of individuals from the medical, legal, business, professional and educational community who direct and oversee the work of an eight person professional staff.
Today