Internet provider surprises Lafourche nonprofit with $2,500 grant for Ida recovery

Dan Copp, The Courier
·2 min read

A Gonzales internet provider recently gave a Lafourche nonprofit organization a donation to help the community recover from Hurricane Ida.

REV Broadband, the parent company of several telecommunications businesses like RTC, EATEL and EATEL Business, Vision Communications and VENYU, awarded the Bless Your Heart volunteer organization in Larose with $2,500 as it continues to help residents rebuild.

The company also gave $2,500 to the St. John United Way.

Both organizations received the donations unexpectedly, the company said.

“Representatives from both organizations were invited to individual meetings to discuss the potential of filming a production about their work in the community -- specifically in the form of aiding citizens affected by Hurricane Ida,” the company said in a release. “In the place of a meeting, the nonprofit representatives were surprised with a donation made on behalf of REV’s executive leadership.”

More: Housing for residents displaced by Ida remains a challenge in Terrebonne and Lafourche

Peter Louviere, CFO of REV Broadband and Vision Communications, said the company wanted to give back to the organizations that have given so much over the last several months. Both organizations continue to play big roles in helping the community recover from Category 4 storm that made landfall Aug. 29.

Jeray Jarreau (seated), Bless Your Heart founder and director, is surprised by a donation presented by Peter Louviere (left), CFO of REV Broadband/Vision Communications, and Josh Descant (right), CEO of REV Broadband/Vision Communications.
Jeray Jarreau (seated), Bless Your Heart founder and director, is surprised by a donation presented by Peter Louviere (left), CFO of REV Broadband/Vision Communications, and Josh Descant (right), CEO of REV Broadband/Vision Communications.

“We continue to hear so much about the great work these two organizations continue to do – bringing positive, lasting impact to the communities we serve and live within,” he said. “It’s not only an honor to be able to present these donations to such deserving organizations but to do so on behalf of our 400 employees really makes this rewarding.”

Jeray Jarreau, an attorney in Larose who helped launch Bless Your Heart, said he was grateful for the donation.

"Bless Your Heart is overwhelmed and humbled that RTC-EATEL-Vision would choose to donate to our organization. RTC-EATEL-Vision's support of our organization exemplifies its continued dedication to help Lafourche Parish recover after the devastating effects of Hurricane Ida," he said.

Also: Group has distributed over $3.7 million so far for Ida recovery in Terrebonne, Lafourche

Bless Your Heart said it has so far raised over $500,000, helped over 1,000 people and donated more than 100,000 pounds of supplies since it was founded in 2020.

REV Broadband says more than 60,000 of its customers were impacted by the storm.

— Staff Writer Dan Copp can be reached at 448-7639 or at dan.copp@houmatoday.com. Follow him on Twitter @DanVCopp.

This article originally appeared on The Courier: Internet provider awards Lafourche nonprofit for its community service