2024 Proudly Pro-Life Gala

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Louisiana’s pro-life voice, from the capitol to the classroom!

Learn more about our 2024 Proudly Pro-Life Gala using the green boxes below.
Thank you to our Gala Host Committee and generous patrons!

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Thank you in advance for your generosity!

LIFESAVER PATRONS: The Jason Blunt Family; Mike and Dana Hammer; Shawn and Kenta Paretti

CHAMPION OF LIFE PATRONS: Whitman Family Foundation

DEFENDER OF LIFE PATRONS: Dan and Celie Clark; Melissa Perret; Kenneth M. Wood

WINE & CHAMPAGNE SPONSOR: Robby and Kathryn Howard

CLERGY / PASTOR SPONSORS: Hunter Lundy and a Friend of Life

LOVER OF LIFE PATRONS: Brian and Virginia Almon; Stephen and Shannon Austin; John and Deborah Blancher; The Blessed Hope Fund; Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Canizaro; Ralph and Linda Capitelli; Jerry and Barbara Christopher; Kurt and Susan Crosby; Jack and Anne Dardis; Quinn and Karen Eagan; The Edward L. Rispone Family Foundation; Giving Hope NOLA; Dan and Nancy Henderson; Karl and Laura Huber; Blase and Erica Inzina; The J. Edgar Monroe Foundation; Bob and June Menard; David and Mary Beth Mettz; Jane H. Nalty; Dr. Angela; Parise and Steven Arthur; Mark and Sharon Rodi; Greg and Paige Roussel; Salutare Deum Foundation; Shannon Simons, DDS; The Solomon Family; Gordon and Ann Stevens; Mrs. Phyllis Taylor; Jim and Marisol Tucker; Matthew and Melissa Wender; Bob and Norris Williams

FRIEND OF LIFE PATRONS: Rod and Linda Abele; Claudia Abramowicz & Family Fund; Becker Suffern McLanahan, Ltd; Beyer and Campbell Families; Roy and Gail Daigle; Rennan and Liz Duffour; Congressman Garret Graves;  Jensen Companies; David and Anna Jouandot; Joe and Erin Kalus; U.S. Senator John Kennedy; Joal Kuebel; Judy Legett; David and Kim Lukinovich; Tony Pastor; State Reps. Beau Beaullieu, Dewith Carrier, Daryl Deshotel, John Illg, and Laurie Schlegel; State Rep. Mark Wright; Stan and Judy Salathe; Dr. and Mrs. Robert Quinilty

BAR SPONSOR: Robert Fresh Market; Sewart Supply, LLC

LIFE PATRONS: Baby Angels; Baton Rouge Right to Life; U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy; Catholic Charities Pregnancy and Adoption Services; Cedar Grove Insurance; Robert and Lynn Clapper; Robert and Lauren Clark; Stephen and Diane Cory; Dr. Joseph and Kay Crapanzano; Dr. and Mrs. Nicholas A. Danna, III; Rev. Ed Grice and Friends; Deidra Edwards; First National Bank U.S.A.; Michael and Allison Friel; State Rep. Jay Galle; The Garvey Family; Dr. James B. and Mrs. Kathleen Godchaux; Bill and Judy Hidalgo, Sr.; Chris and Kim Kenny; Peg Kenny; Louisiana State Knights of Columbus; Lakeshore Church; Governor Jeff Landry and First Lady Sharon Landry; LA Secretary of State Nancy Landry; Mr. Patrick and Dr. Laura Mansfield; Mary, Queen of Peace Church; Dr. and Mrs. F. King McGoey; Linda Middleton; The Movement Science Center; Notre Dame Seminary; Bishop Dwight and Lady Sandra Pate; Jim and Stacy Pellerin; State Reps. Stephanie Hilferty, Polly Thomas, and Debbie Villio, and State Senator Greg Miller; State Reps. Emily Chenevert, Kim Coates, Kellee Dickerson, and Jessica Domangue; St. Catherine of Siena Church; St. Francis Xavier Church; St. Piux X Church; St. Tammany Right to Life; Anthony and Isabel Schneller; Frank and Linda Sunseri; Gerard and Mary Thomas; Wilkinson Tree Farm; The Willwoods Community; Ida Zimmer; Dr. Emmett Zimmerman and Dr. Marcia Davila

PROGRAM SPONSOR: Pel Hughes, Inc.

INDIVIDUAL PATRONS: State Rep. Tony Bacala; The Barousse Family; Troy and Zita Beaucoudray; State Rep. Stephanie and Dr. Greg Berault; State Rep. Beth Billings; Randall Bonaventure; Mrs. A. J. Capritto; Joey and Mike Caruso; Emile and Sheila Casadaban; Mike and Catherine Cooper; Stan and Isabel Cowley; Guy and Pamela Cresson; Delores and Norm Dufour; Jeff and Bridget Dunbar; Paulette Charbonnet Eastin; Lauren Fremin; Sharon Winn Fremin; Gorilla Race Engineering; Carlton and Carlys Guillot; Jo-Ann Testa and Jim Hebert; Dr. Michael and Patricia Helm; Colleen S. Ingraffia; Tom and Connie Kitchen; Wayne and Carolyn Landwerlin; Howard S. Linzy; Bill Maier; Mark Pedersen Equipment; Hy and Libba McEnery; Wayne and Ronnie Merchant; State Sen. Beth Mizell; Kevin and Michele Murphy; Tom and Margaret Murphy; Michael and Kelley Olinde; William and Lucy O’Regan; A Priest Friend for Life; John and Pam Richard; Peter and Kathie Schaumber; Dr. Michael Sprague; Robert and Tangie Stephens; Gerry and Don Sustendal; Earl and Carolyn Weiser; Maria Winn; Woman’s New Life Clinic; State Rep. Jerome “Zee” Zeringue

We are so thankful to our 2024 Proudly Pro-Life Gala Host Committee!

Stephen and Shannon Austin
Kathleen Benfield
John and Deborah Blancher
TJ Burgess
Ralph and Linda Capitelli
Benjamin and Kristen Clapper
Mary Clement
Daniel and Celie Clark
Jerry and Barbara Christopher, Jr.
Kurt and Susan Crosby
Jack and Anne Dardis
Jeff and Leigh Director
Troy and Tracy Duhon
Quinn and Karen Eagan
Carlton and Carlys Guillot
Mike and Dana Hammer
Kathleen Harrison
Kacie Hoerner
Karl and Laura Huber
Colleen Ingraffia
Peg Kenny
Robert and Judy Legett Martin
Dr. King and Karen McGoey
Bob and June Menard
Jane Nalty
Shawn and Kenta Paretti
Dr. Angela Parise and Mr. Steven Arthur
Melissa Perret
Robert and Judy Quinilty
Remnant Foundation
Mark and Sharon Rodi
Isabel Schneller
Gordon and Ann Stevens
Gerard and Mary Thomas
Matthew and Melissa Wender
Dr. Shannon Simons Wild
Bob and Norris Williams
Willwoods Community
Ida Zimmer

A message from Majority Leader Scalise:

“Louisiana Right to Life has been instrumental in advancing the pro-life message while fighting to protect the lives of the unborn. I am honored to work together with Louisiana Right to Life as we continue this vital crusade in the years ahead.”

James Patrick Caviezel was born and raised in Mount Vernon, Washington. He is one of five siblings raised in a Catholic home that loved participating in sports. Jim’s main interest while growing up was basketball and dreamed of playing in the NBA.

A talented high school and college basketball player, Jim suffered a foot injury putting an end to his hoop dreams. Jim then turned his focus toward acting and moved to Los Angeles.

Jim Caviezel’s most significant film role came when he was chosen by Mel Gibson to portray Jesus in The Passion of the Christ. The movie made headlines and broke box-office records around the world becoming one of the highest grossing films of all time.

Jim’s TV roles in the BBC mini-series The Prisoner and his six seasons on the CBS hit crime drama Person of Interest were both highly rated shows and international fan favorite projects. Jim considers his latest film Sound of Freedom to be the second most important role he’s ever done.

Jim and his wife, Kerri, are the blessed parents of three amazing adopted children. Jim is proud to promote his love of God and family; the Caviezels foster various charities that focus on adoption as well as protecting women, children, families and the unborn.

We are proud to be honoring the All God’s Babies Ministry of the Monday Night Disciples and Compassionate Burials for Indigent Babies (CBIB) with our 2024 Proudly Pro-Life Award.

These two organizations provide burials for babies lost by abortion, miscarriage, stillbirth, infant loss, and more. All God’s Babies has hand-crafted nearly 400 caskets to-date and provides funeral services upon request.

Since 2007, CBIB has provided over 400 funerals for precious children.

CBIB: www.cbibinc.com
All God's Babies: www.MondayNightDisciples.org

Benjamin Clapper has committed his life to speaking for those who cannot speak for themselves. His expertise in the pro-life movement ranges from the political and legislative realm to youth education and activism.

Benjamin serves as the Executive Director of Louisiana Right to Life. Louisiana Right to Life, established in 1970, works through education, activism, legislation, and service to restore the right to life in Louisiana. During his years with Louisiana Right to Life, Benjamin has helped grow Louisiana Right to Life into a organization making an impact for life from the State Capitol to high school classrooms across the state. During his time working to advance pro-life legislation, Louisiana has been at or near the top of the list of most pro-life states in the nation.

In addition to Louisiana Right to Life, Benjamin serves the national pro-life movement in a number of capacities. Through his work with the National Right to Life Victory Fund, Benjamin has worked on the political side to elect pro-life leaders to office. He also helped start pro-life youth training programs in many states through the “Life and Leadership Youth Camp Initiative.”

Benjamin is also the Executive Producer of the award-winning short adoption documentary film  I Lived on Parker Avenue.

Benjamin’s dedication to the pro-life movement began in late high school in his hometown of Mobile, AL, but was stregthened in college as he actively worked with Students for Life of America and went on to found Louisiana Students for Life. In 2013, Benjamin was honored to receive a top award from SFLA.

Benjamin graduated from Loyola University New Orleans in 2007 as the Ignatian Award winner for Outstanding Male Graduate. At Loyola, he was blessed to meet his future wife, Kristen, through their collaboration on pro-life activities. Kristen and Benjamin reside in Mandeville with their four beautiful daughters: Kate, Mary Rose, Julia, and Claire.

The 14th Archbishop of New Orleans, Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond, is the first New Orleans native to serve as archbishop in the 216-year history of the archdiocese. Archbishop Aymond is a strong pro-life advocate, and was awarded the 2015 Proudly Pro-Life Award for his effort to bring awareness to Planned Parenthood’s abortion center in New Orleans.

  • 1999 - His Excellency, Francis B. Schulte
  • 2000 - Lawrence D. Garvey
  • 2001 - His Excellency, Philip M. Hannan
  • 2002 - Robert E. Winn, Esquire
  • 2003 - Kathleen Nee Benfield
  • 2004 - John & Pam Richard and Pastor Bill Shanks
  • 2005 - Sharon Ryan Rodi, Esq.
  • 2007 - Raymond F. Gassar, M.S., Ph.D.
  • 2008 - W. Al Krotoski, M.D., Ph.D., MPH
  • 2009 - Judith Legett Martin and Karen Perrier McGoey
  • 2010 - Dorinda Chiappetta Bordlee
  • 2011 - Peg Kenny
  • 2012 - ACCESS & Woman’s New Life Center
  • 2013 - His Excellency, Alfred C. Hughes
  • 2014 - Cindy Collins
  • 2015 - His Excellency, Gregory M. Aymond
  • 2016 - John Hauler and LA Knights of Columbus
  • 2017 - Honorable & Mrs. David Vitter
  • 2018 - John Smestad
  • 2019 - David, Susan, & Jimmy Scotton and Roy & Gail Daigle
  • 2020 - Congressman Steve Scalise
  • 2021 - Benjamin and Kirsten Watson
  • 2022 - Senator Katrina Jackson
  • 2023 - Bobbie Jones & All Sidewalk Advocates