Ascension DePaul Foundation New Orleans (ADF, formerly Daughters of Charity Foundation of New Orleans) will honor Louisiana State Senator for District 5, Royce Duplessis, with it’s Inspired Cross Award at its 11th Annual Keeping Our Promises Gala, presented by Quest Diagnostics.
Sen. Duplessis will receive the award at the event on April 12 at the Hyatt Regency, located at 601 Loyola Avenue in New Orleans, for his efforts and dedication to promoting healthy communities.
While serving in the legislature, he passed criminal justice reforms, championed legislation to expand access to affordable healthcare, prioritized efforts to allow for paid sick leave, worked to make housing more affordable, and fought to enact a living wage. Most recently, Sen. Duplessis championed legislation to require universal perinatal mood disorder screening, to end solitary confinement for juveniles, and to limit when mugshots can be released to the public.
He is currently serving on the Board of the Innocence Project and Governor's Council on the Success of Black Men and Boys.
“Ascension DePaul Foundation is proud to honor the great work that Sen. Duplessis has done, and continues to do, to fight for the improvement of multiple communities’ overall health and well-being,” said Michael G. Griffin, MSPH, DSc, FACHE, president and CEO of DePaul Community Health Centers. “We are grateful for his servant leadership and for him using his voice to make a difference, not only in the greater New Orleans area, but within the entire state of Louisiana.”
ADF will also honor Phyllis Taylor, Patrick F. Taylor Foundation, Robert Angelico, and Corey Hebert, MD, at the gala. The event will begin with an exclusive Patron Party at 6 p.m., leading into the Gala at 7 p.m. The event aims to raise crucial funds to combat health disparities and ensure equitable access to high-quality healthcare for all members of the community.