Member and Fund Spotlight

Evelyn and George Paret and the lock family endowment fund

If you’ve been following our newsletter for a while, you may remember the story of Ellen Martha Goos Lock. It’s a powerful example of how collaboration between families, financial advisors, and community foundations can create a lasting impact.

Over 100 years ago, Ellen Lock purchased the Ryan Street property, hired the famous architects Favrot & Livaudais, and created Lock Park in the heart of the City of Lake Charles. She donated it to the City in 1917 to honor her late husband, Captain George Lock. She also set aside funds so her family could continue supporting the park and other causes. The family upheld her legacy for six generations, but as time went on, managing the funds became more challenging as some family members aged or moved away. “Having to be personally responsible for all the decisions with managing a legacy can weigh on you,” shared Evelyn Paret, who managed the fund for their family after her father-in-law passed away.

In 2015, Evelyn and George Paret, and George’s siblings, decided to find another way to preserve Ellen Lock’s vision. Unsure of the best approach, they sought guidance from their CPA, Mike Terranova. In short order, Mike connected with Sara Judson at the Community Foundation, and the Lock Family Endowment Fund was established at the Foundation.

Evelyn and George’s grandchildren and their cousins are the 7th generation of the Ellen Martha and Captain George Lock family. This multi-generational stewardship ensures that Ellen’s original mission to support the park that she created and named to honor her late husband, Lock Park, and other causes important to the family including Boy Scouts and Good Shepherd Episcopal Church will continue for generations while relieving the Parets from having to manage all the paperwork.

“It’s so great I don’t have to write a check or anything,” Evelyn exclaimed. “We just let the Foundation know what we want to do and they take care of it all!”

The Lock Family Endowment Fund is invested through the Foundation and the principal remains invested forever. Growth of the fund is available each year for the advisors, including George and later family members in the next generation, to make grants to causes important to them. It will continue to support Ellen Martha and Captain George Lock’s legacy forever.

Lock Park has an exciting past and future! The City of Lake Charles, in partnership with the nonprofit Families for Inclusion and generous donations from LyondellBasell and the Lock Family Endowment Fund, is creating the City’s first inclusive playground.

When we asked Evelyn what she thought Ellen Martha would be thinking she shared, “It’s more than she could have ever imagined!”  When asked about Ellen’s vision and what it means to her to help carry out this vision over 100 years later, Evelyn quietly shared, “It’s a gift to be in this family. When I think about honoring your husband in that way, it makes you feel good. We have some really strong people in our line, and I’m honored to be a part of it.”

In addition to the Lock Family Endowment, Evelyn created her fund, Evelyn’s Hope, where she supports causes that touch her heart. The Paret family also makes an annual membership contribution to the Foundation because they are passionate about the good things happening in SWLA.  

What would Evelyn say to friends about the value of the Community Foundation? “If you care about the future of Lake Charles, just know that you’re already seeing it happen with the Community Foundation. It allows you to be part of the solution, not just complain about it.”