Playing a Starring Role In Community Service

If there’s anything you first notice about people who work for Imperial Sugar, it’s their sense of community. It’s a sense that begins in the workplace and radiates outside to the many places employees live and work.

So, it’s no surprise that in Gramercy, Louisiana, employees at the company’s sugar refinery repeatedly devote their time, money and company resources to worthwhile causes in the town and surrounding St. James Parish.

Take for instance this year’s Relay for Life, an overnight event that unites community members against cancer. The 2009 theme for the St. James Parish event was “Lights, Camera, Take Action.”

Charmaine Ordeneaux, administrative assistant at the refinery, recalls: “When it first started, it was a novel idea … stay up most of the night. Dress up. It kind of caught on. It was fun.”

Imperial Sugar’s Gramercy team was one of 25 participating in this year’s campaign. The St. James rally raised more than $127,000 for the American Cancer Society. Ranking fourth out of all the teams, Imperial Sugar brought in more than $7,000. That included a $1,500 corporate donation – along with other fundraising by employees before the rally.

Funds are used for research, education, advocacy and service to those affected by cancer. “One of the cornerstones of this event is the luminary ceremony where candles, torches, or sky lanterns shine in honor of or in memory of those with cancer,” says Ordeneaux.

In line with the movie theme, Gramercy’s team depicted the movie Toy Story. Their motto was taken from Buzz Lightyear: “Going to Infinity and Beyond to Find a Cure.”

Ordeneaux and Erin Hymel served as co-captains of Imperial Sugar’s team. Other members included Toni Arceneaux, Christine Becnel, Tracy Dicharry, Sylvia Faucheux, Wade Faucheux, Wanda Gravois, Jay Matherne, Brad Hidalgo, Rachel Matherne, Lonnie LeBlanc, Marcie Martinez, Vicki Lynn Lester, Shelly Louque, Joel Zeringue and Tara Louque.

Tara Louque, technical clerk, created the team T-shirt, and in-house artist, Chris Gros, designed the campsite.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a community event without some outside help – thanks to Coastal Ventures, Inc. for paying the team’s registration fee, Ten M for donating bottled water, and Imperial Sugar retiree Johnny Louque, who cooked the jambalaya, beans and chili.