Stoma selected as Humanitarian of the Year

The Crowley Chamber of Commerce has announced that Emily LaBorde Stoma has been named Crowley’s Humanitarian of the Year for 2016.
Stoma is married to Harvey Stoma and is the proud mother of four, Leith “Brooke”, Annsley, Cassidy and Trevor. She is a grandmother of six – Hallie, Hollyn, Dominic, Mason, Luke and Annalise.
Stoma is a graduate of Crowley High School as well as a certified graduate of Louisiana’s Banker’s School of Banking. She has attended numerous schools, classes, conferences and seminars through American Institute of Banking and USL. She is also a 1997 graduate of Leadership EXCEL.
Stoma worked for 23 years with First National Bank of Crowley in the accounting department, working her way up to secretary and vice-president to the board of directors as well as secretary of the Board of Financial Corporation of Louisiana.
She has dedicated numerous years to the growth and development of children and to bettering the lives of the less fortunate. She has served on the board of directors of the Crowley Recreation Department and was the original organizer of the first Baseball Day Parade and Opening Ceremonies at Miller Stadium for the Crowley Recreation Department.
Stoma volunteered much of her time coaching baseball and softball, following in her father’s footsteps. She was also a board member of the Larry Guidry Sports and Education Leadership Program as well as the Acadia Parish Locker to Locker Team Outreach program back in 2001.
Stoma is a past and current active supporter of St. Michael Elementary, St. Michael Church, Immaculate Heart of Mary
Church, Redemptorist Catholic School and Notre Dame High School. She was a past member of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church Finance Committee as well as a Youth Group Leader and an Alter Server Leader.
She was a past member of the PTA for Notre Dame High School and the co-chairman of Notre Dame’s Project Graduation. She was recognized as “Volunteer of the Month” in November of 1998.
Stoma has been a huge supporter of Redemportist Catholic School, where she served on many committees and boards, fostering the growth and development of the school. She served on the board of directors and school board
for Redemportist for four years. She also helped guide fundraising for the school’s annual bazaar, the eighth-grade Washington, D.C., trip and the new gymnasium project.
She was recognized as the 1999-2000 “Supporter/Achiever of the Year”.
Stoma has been involved with the Crowley Business and Professional Women’s Club, Crowley Rotary Club, Lafayette
Chamber of Commerce, as well as the Crowley Chamber of Commerce.She has given her time and effort to many philanthropic organizations and events over the years.
She has served as Salvation Army secretary and treasurer, co-chair of Dancing With the Stars In a Caring Way benefitting the Crowley Christian Care, Welcome House and the Crowley Rotary Club.
She has been affiliated with Christmas In April, Hospice and Breast Cancer Awareness and the Community Outreach Corporation with their fundraising efforts benefitting the Welcome House.
Stoma has also been a huge asset fostering the Crowley Christian Care Center over the past 16 years while serving as volunteer administrator.
“The value of life is measured by the lives we touch,” Stoma said. “My mother and father raised me to always try to help others, not to stand back, but to step forward and do my part for others.
“Those who want to help, or feel the need to help, will feel rewarded, themselves. Helping our family and friends is wonderful but reaching out to all in need, without knowing who, just helping out because it’s the right thing to do, is the most rewarding.
“Anyone and everyone can lend a helping hand. There are all kinds of ways to give help to others — big and small. Together is when we make a big difference.”
All are invited to join the Chamber at the Annual Banquet Thursday, May 4, at the Grand Opera House where Stoma will be honored as the 2016 Humanitarian of the Year.
The Chamber will also be recognizing its board of directors, the Business Person of the Year and Outstanding Young Citizens.
Dinner will begin with hors d’oeuvres and cocktails at 6 p.m. with dinner service at 7 p.m.
During the cocktail hour, the crowd will have the opportunity to bid on items in a silent auction.
Advance tickets may be purchased by calling the Chamber office, at 788-0177. Individual tickets are $40; a table for eight may be reserved for $300.