The Chamber is proud to announce Stella Guidry has been selected as the 2018 Humanitarian of the Year. Stella is married to Warren Guidry and has three children; Ronda Richard and husband Mark, step-son Bryan Guidry and his wife Linda, and step-daughter Christy Guidry, husband Jerad. She also has five grandchildren, Gracie Richard, Jade Richard, Bryana Guidry, Hayden David and Sophie David. In July of 2016, Stella retired from Gremillion’s Drug Store where she had worked for 41 years where she became part of the family.
Stella is a 29 year cancer survivor. During those years of remission, she realized there was a need of support for cancer patients. In 1992, she started a support group through the American Cancer Society. Still to this day, she’ll get calls from the hospital from patients needing a few words of hope in which she will gladly share her story. In 1998 Stella began Relay for Life where she held the position of Chairman for two years. After, she remained on a team to help raise money for the American Cancer Society for 11 years. Outside of the American Cancer Society, Stella has held various fundraisers for Miles Perret raising thousands of dollars for cancer patients and their families.
In 2005, she was presented with the Community Service Award from the Acadia Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. In that same year she was also chosen as the Grand Marshall of the Children’s parade for the International Rice Festival.
Since then, Stella has dedicated countless hours volunteering for the International Rice Festival, as well as serving on the board of directors. With this group, she has helped host numerous Poker Runs; you can always find her smiling bright and early on the Saturday morning of Rice Festival! She did not stop there—additionally, she has held the position of chairman for the Winnie, Texas Rice Festival sharing our beloved Rice Festival with all Texas natives!
Stella committed many evenings, weekends and early mornings to coaching recreational softball. Her love of the game and youth was evident as she gave 25 years to the Crowley Recreation Department. The year she retired from coaching, she was able to take her girl’s slow pitch team to Nationals in Burleson, Texas where they took home 4th place and the Sportsmanship Award. In 2011, Jack Montoucet presented Stella with an award for her years of dedication to the sport and youth.
In 2017, a year after her retirement, Stella felt the need to serve those who endured the unprecedented flooding in Texas—so she did so through Acadia Parish HOPE (Helping Other People Endlessly). From there, she jumped right into volunteering for Lamm Family Care Hospice—which she still has not stopped. Stella has expressed her love of helping others and the community.
All are invited to join Chamber Members at the Annual Banquet Thursday, May 10, at the Grand Opera House of the South where the Crowley Chamber will recognize the Board of Directors Business of the Year and Acadia Parish’s Outstanding Young Citizens. Dinner will begin with hors d’oeuvres and cocktails at 6:00 p.m. with dinner service at 7:00 p.m. During the cocktail hour, the crowd will have the opportunity to bid on items in a silent auction. Advance tickets may be purchased by calling the Chamber office, at 788-0177 or purchasing Annual Banquet Tickets Here. Individual tickets are $50; a table for eight may be reserved for $400.
