Mount Carmel launching Capital Campaign Tuesday

The steps to a bright future for Mount Carmel Elementary will begin next week.
The school is officially kicking off its Capital Campaign, a three-year fundraising venture, next week.
A meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 23, will serve as a start to the campaign. The meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the Mount Carmel gym.
“We are going to launch the Capital Campaign,” Mount Carmel President Sister Janet LeBlanc said. “The public is invited to attend.
“We are going to present our plans during the meeting.”
The three-year goal for the campaign is $5 million. It is a goal that sets up the future for the ever-growing school.
“This is very much about setting up the future,” Mount Carmel Principal Jackie Trahan said.
Among the plans for the school are a new assembly center, a multi-media learning center and campus
enhancements.
The assembly center will provide adequate seating for the student body, parents and guest for Masses, assemblies, enrichment activities and ceremonies. The center will also serve as the new gymnasium.
The school’s current gym will be renovated to serve as a multi-media learning center. It will feature an expanded library, a research technology center and a science lab.
Plans for future campus enhancements will include an upgrade to the current building facade, a new welcome area and lobby as well as improvements and enhancements of administrative offices. Those improvements would come after improvements that positively affect student activities.
“These will be done in phases,” Trahan explained. “We are going to get the kids what they need before anything else is done.”
More information on the Capital Campaign can be found on the school’s website at www.vrml.k12.la.us/mc. A link to the campaign is on the home page. The link features a video for the campaign.
The fundraising portion will be for three years. As soon as the goal is reached, work will begin.
“The public will be kept up to date on what is happening,” LeBlanc said. “We will have periodic updates on our website.”
Patience will be an important part of the process.
“A big part of it,” Trahan said. “We are going to make a sign to put by the entrance that will show where we stand on monies raised.
“We actually have some money raised already.”
The goal is $5 million. Any little bit helps in reaching that goal. Even beyond financial donations.
“We welcome anything that someone can give,” Trahan said. “Prayers are something that we are asking for.
“Prayers, pledges and time are going to make this work.”
Tuesday’s meeting will be the time for supporters of this effort to take the first big steps.
“The community has always supported this school,” LeBlanc said. “The main thing right now is having people come out on Tuesday to the meeting.
“That’s how we are going to get this started.”