The Rapides Foundation

09/04/2026

Love the photos, KLAX 31!

09/04/2026

Thanks for the coverage of our annual Symposium, KALB News Channel 5!

This year's event featured world-renowned educator Geoffrey Canada as a guest speaker, who discussed ways to help schools thrive and create pathways for future careers.

> > > https://kalb.com/2026/09/04/pathways-success-rapides-foundations-2026-symposium/

09/03/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us at The Rapides Foundation’s 2026 Symposium!
We’re grateful to the community leaders, partners, educators, families and friends who came together to explore Pathways to Success and what it takes to create opportunities for every child to thrive.
A special thank-you to our keynote speaker, Geoffrey Canada, for sharing his insights and inspiring us to think about how communities can work together to support children and families.
Thank you for being part of this important conversation and for helping us imagine and build a stronger future for Central Louisiana.

09/03/2026

The Foundation awarded a grant to Dolly Parton’s Dollywood Foundation to expand its Imagination Library across Central Louisiana. This program inspires a love of reading and supports school readiness by delivering free, age-appropriate books each month to children from birth to age 5.

09/01/2026

CMAP’s mobile unit is gearing up for a busy September, bringing services directly into local communities. Make sure you don’t miss us this month!

🚐 September 1 & 2 | Grant Parish
📞 Call by August 27

🚐 September 15 & 16 | Rapides Parish
📞 Call by September 10

To learn more about the Cancer Screening Project, view the recommended guidelines, and view our mobile unit schedule, click HERE:
➡️ https://www.cmaprx.org/.../Cancer.../Cancer-Screening-Van

Appointments are recommended but not required. To schedule an appointment, please call Cancer Screening Specialist Stephanie Heinen. 📱 318-767-3027

08/31/2026

The Orchard Foundation offers specialized leadership institutes for directors of early learning centers. The Instructional Leadership Institute focuses on instructional leadership and professional development, and the Business Leadership Institute focuses on business management of an early learning center. These institutes are part of The Rapides Foundation’s School Readiness Initiative.

08/30/2026

Cervical cancer is highly preventable, and that is why screening and vaccination are so important.

According to the CDC, cervical cancer can often be prevented through routine screening tests such as Pap tests and HPV testing, which detect abnormal changes early before they develop into cancer. The HPV vaccine also helps protect against the types of HPV that most commonly cause cervical cancer.

When caught early or prevented altogether, cervical cancer is highly treatable and often avoidable. Staying up to date on screenings and vaccines is one of the most effective ways to protect long-term health.

To see if you are eligible for a FREE breast, cervical or colorectal cancer screening through CMAP, click the link below:
➡️ https://www.cmaprx.org/.../Cancer.../Cancer-Screening-Van

Appointments are recommended but not required. To schedule an appointment, please contact our Cancer Screening Specialist. 📱 318-767-3027

The Cancer Screening Project is funded by The Rapides Foundation and administered by its affiliate, CMAP.

08/29/2026

Have you heard of CMAP? It stands for Cenla Medication Access Program. We have a variety of services that you and your family could benefit from when it comes to accessible healthcare!
Learn more about our services, view qualifications, search in-stock prescriptions, and more by visiting our website!
🖥️Visit us at www.cmaprx.org
📞Or call us today at 1-888-443-7494.
CMAP is an affiliate of The Rapides Foundation.

08/27/2026

Through a grant to the Dollywood Foundation’s Imagination Library and support from community partners, we are helping prepare Central Louisiana’s young children for school success. 📚
Learn more about our partnership and register your child today!

08/27/2026

Like everyone else, we mourn the loss of American icon Dolly Parton, but we also remember one of her favorite legacies - inspiring a love of reading. In 2024, we partnered with one our owners, The Rapides Foundation, to bring Dolly Parton's Imagination Library to Rapides Parish. This program provides free, high-quality and age-appropriate books each month for children ages 0 to 5 years old.

Inspired by her father’s inability to read or write, Dolly started her Imagination Library in 1995 for the children within her home county. Today, the program spans five countries and gifts more than 3 million free books each month to children, regardless of the family’s income. Since its beginning, more than 250 million free books have been distributed.

“Before he passed away, my daddy told me the Imagination Library was probably the most important thing I had ever done,” said Dolly. “I can’t tell you how much that means to me because I created the Imagination Library as a tribute to my daddy. Inspiring kids to read became my passion and my mission. If you can read, you can teach yourself anything.”

If you live in Rapides Parish, visit https://bit.ly/3UEPVxo to register. Parents who live outside Rapides Parish may also use the website to check eligibility through their parish of residence.