Annual Member Spotlight

Jim Beam

We appreciate your longtime membership in the Community Foundation. What inspires you to make a significant annual membership contribution?

I have always believed in Community Foundation and the effective work they do but was disappointed that Southwest Louisiana was late in forming a foundation. However, thanks to help from the Baton Rouge Foundation, the Community Foundation of Southwest Louisiana got off the ground and has quickly become a well-supported and effective organization. The rapid growth of the foundation encouraged me to increase my annual membership contribution. Quick growth has obviously helped others realize that the foundation is doing great work, has an extremely intelligent, friendly and courteous staff and they have increased their contributions.

You’ve been involved in the Hector San Miguel Fund whose mission is to support the relentless pursuit of the truth in SWLA. What motivates you to continue to be active in this mission?

The Hector San Miguel Fund is my favorite, of course, because he became one of the South’s best investigative reporters while doing investigative work for the American Press while I was one of its editors. His investigative work produced valuable information that I could use and express opinions about in my twice-weekly personal political newspaper columns. The newspaper industry has lost much of its investigative potential and foundations are helping restore some of that valuable work.

Your experiences in 90 years of living and working in the Lake Area give you a unique perspective. How do you think the Just Imagine SWLA 50-Year Resilience Plan will make a difference for our region’s future?

Another one of my disappointments has been the lack of vision by some of this area’s earlier civic and business leaders. The Just Imagine SWLA 50-Year Resilience Plan is designed to make up for that lack of vision and it is producing optimism among area residents.

Please share your “secret sauce” for how you stay active and engaged in our community. 

My professional life has been devoted to journalism and the fact I am still able to continue the work I love has helped me reach age 90. As I have said to many others, what an advantage it is to live long enough to remember major events in the history of this country, in Louisiana, and in the community in which I live. I am convinced the Community Foundation of Southwest Louisiana is going to help this area grow and prosper in the years to come.