Butterflies are free

River Region Arts & Humanities Council Tea Motif

She won: San Francisco Plantation Manager Kim Fontenot is shown with her Angelus award.

Butterflies were everywhere at the River Regions Arts & Humanities Council Members' and Guests Tea on Sept. 30.

Decorations and bidding items were filled with assorted butterfly motifs as arranged and supervised by chairpersons Audrey Giardina, Betty Haydel and Mike Norton, owner of Bull's Corner Restaurant, where the fundraising event was held.

Sue Friloux served as mistress of ceremonies and Judy Mackles was ticket coordinator for the program.

The focus of RRAHC is to preserve and enhance local culture and to date over $218,000 has been given in over 100 grants to schools, individuals, organizations and others for this purpose. Money for grants is obtained through United Way and the Art Beaucoup and Tea fundraisers that the RRAHC Members have in the spring and in the fall.

Each year, a person or organization is chosen to receive a special Angelus award in recognition for outstanding work in helping to enrich our culture.

This year's award went to Kim Fontenot who has been general manager of the San Francisco Plantation for the past five years. Fontenot was praised for having brought the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra to perform at San Francisco.

In her acceptance speech she invited everyone on Oct. 22 to a 150th Anniversary Mass at 11 a.m. at the plantation followed by brunch and Jimmy Maxwell.

This year, well-known folk artist Lorraine Gendron was presented her own special award for having designed and made the coveted angelus awards for over eight years. Classical pianist Lauren Elizabeth Couchis provided music for the tea.