I have grown up all over Southern Louisiana and settled in Carencro with my husband, graduating from ULL with a degree in Early Childhood Education.  Geaux Cajuns! I have three biological children and multiple bonus kids from our years of fostering who still like come to hang out after they have been reunified with their family or adopted into other homes. Foster the Love has been a part of me since it’s inception in 2018. I first began a founding board member, then as a volunteer, and recently as Chapter Director for a few months. While volunteering for Foster the Love, I worked as a foster parent partner with The Extra Mile. I take pride in sharing how Foster the Love has helped so many families and children involved in the foster system and the community that has formed because of it.

Likes: College sports, quiet time, adventures

Dislikes: Lafayette traffic (though I love the people and the city), Technology

If you could choose any super power, what would it be? To know the right thing to say every time. (Goodbye awkward conversations!)

I am from Carencro, Louisiana and have been married almost 20 years. We have twin boys that we adopted through foster care. I love taking my boys on adventures and watching them experience new things. We fostered several littles during our three years as foster parents and had the chance to be a part of some beautiful reunifications. Foster the Love provided us with needed material items during our foster journey but most importantly provided me with a support system. I have made lifelong friends through support group meetings and volunteering with the FTL. I am grateful to be a part of an organization that cares so much for the foster community. 

Likes: Dr Pepper, Being outdoors

Dislikes: Roller coasters

If you could choose any super power, what would it be? The ability to go back in time and re-experience moments.

I have been married to my high school sweetheart, Matthew, for over 20 years; we have 5 children. I graduated from Academy of the Sacred Heart in Grand Coteau and studied Children and Family Ministries at Christ For the Nations Institute in Dallas, TX. My family and I returned home to Lafayette over 8 years ago, after being in the great state of Texas for 12 years. We began our journey in foster care in 2015 and adopted our two youngest children in 2017. I am passionate about supporting those that care for children in our foster system. I also want to work hard to see reform in the foster system so that the most vulnerable in our society are cared for at the greatest capacity.

Likes: Chips and queso, brownies, laughing, the colors of fall (outside of South Louisiana), and sleeping.

Dislikes: Pickles and mustard, being late, socks- I really hate socks, complacency.

If you could choose any super power, what would it be? Multiplication. I would make multiple versions of myself to do all of the laundry and housework so that I could just play with my kids.

Both my wife and I were born and raised in the Midwest and have 2 ‘almost’ adult children! We moved to Louisiana in 2017 and traded in our snow shovels and the gray skies for sunshine, beach towels and flip flops. I graduated from The Ohio State University with a B.S. in Business Administration and completed my Masters in Business Administration from Harvard Business School. I have spent my career running global operations across the Luxury, Industrial and Consumer Product Categories. My connection to this organization is deep and personal. I was put up for adoption at birth and spent the first 2 months of my life in the foster care system. I have been blessed to have the opportunity to chase my dreams no matter how big or small. Being a part of the Foster the Love Community allows me an opportunity to give back in a small way and help support other kids looking to carve out their own path in this world.

Likes: Chocolate Chip Cookies and a Diet Soda (I told you I was from the Midwest!)

Dislikes: SNOW!

If you could choose any super power, what would it be? Giving everyone the Self Confidence necessary to chase their dreams…

My wife and I are both from Acadiana and we have three children together: ages 5, 11 and 13. I have spent over 20 years in residential and commercial real estate. I have a passion for serving those in need, especially children. In 2017 we became a certified foster family. As a foster family, we have cared for many children coming from difficult backgrounds. We have experienced firsthand the needs of children in foster care and the support Foster the Love provides them and their foster families. I am serving Foster the Love with the hopes of giving back to an organization that has helped my family and so many others in our community. I am looking forward to helping Foster the Love expand services to foster families and children alike.

Likes: Cooking for friends and family, playing board games with our kids and I love to fly!

Dislikes: Coffee, spicy food, and painting. I hate painting.

If you could choose any super power, what would it be? Mind control!

Hi, I am Gretchen Cormier. I am from Crowley, LA and married to Kevin Cormier. We have three children together, Anne Katherine (23), Hannah (19) and Phillip Cormier (12). We also have one grandchild, Ellis (1), who we absolutely adore. I work for the Department of Children and Family Services and have been with the agency for 8 years. I have worked in the capacity of a foster care worker and now I am in home development. I get the opportunity to recruit, train and the best part, to get to know many amazing foster parents that support and love foster children. I like being a part of their journey and supporting them while they help children that need a safe and nurturing home. Since day one, I have been a supporter of Foster the Love Louisiana because its mission holds a special place to me. Since their opening, FTL has helped to fill in the gaps, and provide services and resources to enhance a child’s experience in foster care. They have been a tremendous asset to our region.

Likes: Coffee, chocolate, cats and crawfish.

Dislikes: Snakes, boring zoom meetings and calls about my auto insurance warranty expiring.

If you could choose any super power, what would it be? To allow others to feel how much I care about them without using words. 

I am born and raised in Louisiana. However, once I turned 18 I lived in 5 different states and 4 different countries. After a few years bouncing around with the oil industry, I took a position with my family’s utility construction business where I assist in the financial and purchasing aspects of the company. Foster the Love appealed to me as a way to not only give back to the community I was raised in but help out an often overlooked area. After volunteering a few times, I could see what a wonderful charity FTL is and knew I wanted to be more involved.

Likes: I love to travel, play rugby and scuba dive.

Dislikes: I dislike clowns and mayo.

If you could choose any super power, what would it be? Teleportation.

I am a Lafayette native, married for 13 years to my best friend, Robert, and mother to three beautiful children: Aiden, Amelia, and Abraham. I’m a graduate of UL with a Bachelors in Fine Art and am the Owner/Operator of a local interior design and construction firm. I love strange food, making things, and, more than anything, family. I have this deep and expanding heart towards fostering and am thrilled to contribute my strengths to the benefit of such a worthwhile mission.

Likes: COFFEE.

Dislikes: Nuts in icecream, whining, and traffic. 

If you could choose any super power, what would it be? I’d control time, there’s never enough.

I have been married for 30 yrs., I have 3 children and 1 granddaughter.  I worked for over 20 yrs. in the social service field and have recently started a job with a financial institution in Financial Education and Counseling.  I have 2 undergraduate degrees from UL Lafayette and a paralegal certificate.  I have enjoyed volunteering with many nonprofit organizations over the years and I believe in assisting children and foster families in any way that we can.

Likes: Fried shrimp, crafting and creating things.

Dislikes: Coffee 

If you could choose any super power, what would it be? To fly everywhere so I wouldn’t have to drive and could just fly over and get to where I want to go quicker.

Hello! My wife and I are honored to be foster parents. We’ve been married since 2015 and both feel a call to care for children in need. Professionally, I am a Life and Business Investor. I help career, start-up, and small business entrepreneurs to achieve life & business results through purpose, applied knowledge, and mutually beneficial connections. I love helping people to live the lives they truly deserve. Personally, when I was a young adult I was helped by an organization similar to Foster the Love. Instead of being forgotten, type-casted, and unloved, I was encouraged to start my first business at 15 years old. I’m so excited to be able to return the favor and be even the smallest asset to any and all those within the foster system. 

Hey everyone, I’m John romero and I’m married to Ashley. Together we have one child named Stella. I’m a pharmacist and I enjoy real estate investing on the side. A lot of my free time is spent growing food for my family but I hope to one day grow food to donate to people in need. I became interested in Foster the Love when I was made aware of their appeal for funding. Through that process I have grown to love the mission and I have hopes to further the successes.

Likes: Homesteading, Golf, Tennis, Saltwater fishing, Travel, Hiking.

Dislikes: Using windshield wipers without rain. 

If you could choose any super power, what would it be? TThe power to fly. Who doesn’t want to arrive faster?