Thinking Beyond Healthcare
Though adequate access to healthcare is extremely important in a local community, this is only one piece of a much larger puzzle. Our overall well-being is much more than that. The safety of where people live, access to quality education, engagement with others, job opportunities and local options to remain active are just a few social determinants of health outside the walls of a hospital.
501c3 Nonprofit Wellness Foundation
In 2019, St. James Parish Hospital created a 501c3 wellness foundation with the goal to drive wellness initiatives beyond traditional healthcare that help foster thriving communities.
The wellness foundation is a 501c3 charitable organization created as a platform to bring together healthcare providers, local government entities, social service providers, community health partners, industries, small businesses, schools and community members to address all aspects of wellness in the River Parishes. Together, we can truly improve the lives of our citizens.
The wellness foundation will develop, participate and support health and wellness services and programs for the communities we serve such as:
- Monitoring and analyzing community health and wellness data
- Promoting and raising awareness of health and wellness
- Designing and directing services that improve overall health and well-being
- Facilitating and/or collaborating with partners for health and wellness programing
- Leading projects to generate community health and wellbeing by addressing all social determinants of health
- Fundraising for programming, technology and supplies that improve health and well-being in our community
Wellness Foundation Board
The wellness foundation is overseen by a dedicated, diverse Board of Directors from across the River Parishes with backgrounds in education, law, local government, industry and business. Our wellness foundation board is committed to ensuring wellness projects and funding benefit people of all ages, backgrounds and socioeconomic statuses in our community.
- Dale Hymel, Retired St. James Parish Official
- Spuddy Faucheux, St. James Parish Small Business Owner
- Joann Proctor, Retired St. John Parish Educator
- Wilbur Reynaud, St. James Parish Attorney
- Leslie Loup, St. James Parish Industry Mechanical Engineer/Manager
Meet Our Foundation and Community Relations Director 
The wellness foundation is led by Jamie Vicknair, RN, Foundation and Community Relations Director. Jamie has spent the last 24 years serving as a registered nurse in multiple capacities while remaining actively involved in a variety of non-profit organizations and community programs as both a lead fundraiser and volunteer.
Jamie is enthusiastic, motivated, hardworking and passionate about helping others. In her new role she is committed to growing the wellness foundation into an organization rich with passion, volunteers and support, bridging the gap between health and overall well-being and supporting initiatives that make our community a better place to live, work and play.
I have lived all my life in St. James Parish and I am invested in
this community. I am excited to be the voice of the foundation
and bring health and wellness programs to our community.
Contact our Foundation & Community Relations Director
phone 225.258.2074
email jvicknair@sjph.org
address 2454 Louisiana Avenue, Lutcher, LA 70071
Donations, Inquiries and General Questions
For more information about our foundation or to make a donation, contact our Foundation Director or send us an email at foundation@sjph.org.
Donations to the wellness foundation qualify for a tax deduction according to IRS rules, regulations and limits.
