[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 193 (Tuesday, December 13, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1273]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING THE GRAND RE-OPENING OF THE UNITED WAY OF SOUTHEAST 
              LOUISIANA J. WAYNE LEONARD PROSPERITY CENTER

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. TROY A. CARTER

                              of louisiana

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 13, 2022

  Mr. CARTER of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
re-grand opening of the United Way of Southeast Louisiana's J. Wayne 
Leonard Prosperity Center, a one-stop financial stability center 
offering an array of programming to the citizens of Greater New Orleans 
including financial education and coaching, credit building and 
counseling, benefits screening, and income tax assistance.
  As part of United Way's footprint located at a newly acquired site at 
2901 Canal Street, the new facility will also house United Way's IDA 
Project, a matched savings account program helping low-income 
individuals purchase long-term assets through a 4:1 match of their own 
savings. The program is addressing the challenges of intergenerational 
poverty by providing opportunities for participants to purchase a new 
home or vehicle, start or expand a small business, or pay for post-
secondary education, all through their IDA accounts.
  These in-house financial stability resources wiiI help empower low-
to-moderate income families to achieve financial stability today and 
prosperity tomorrow, leading to more vibrant cornmunities for us all. 
In its first year of operation, the J. Wayne Leonard Prosperity Center 
has already served more than 2,000 people referred from the City of New 
Orleans' Network for Economic Opportunity's Workforce Partnership 
Centers. These opportunity centers include Strive New Orleans, JOBI 
Business and Career Solutions Center, Total Community Action, Urban 
League of Greater New Orleans, and Goodwill Industries. And as a result 
of the center's successes, United Way has expanded the center's 
offerings to each parish of United Way's Southeast Region.
  A remarkable man I called my friend and neighbor, J. Wayne Leonard, 
the Prosperity Center's namesake and longest-serving head of Entergy 
Corporation, facilitated more than $50 million in charitable dondtions 
through Entergy aimed at moving people out of poverty and improving 
early childhood education. In October 2017, Mr. Leonard was awarded 
United Way of Southeast Louisiana's prestigious Tocqueville Society 
Award. During his powerful and inspiring acceptance speech, Mr. Leonard 
offered a sulprise gift of $1 million toward UWSELA's anti-poverty 
agenda. Entergy matched the generous gesture with a surprise $ 1 
million gift of their own.
  Mr. Leonard's legacy continues to positively impact the people of 
Southeast Louisiana. ``It has been an honor and privilege to play a 
role in powering people's lives, whether by providing electricity or 
offering a helping hand,'' said Leonard in a previous quote. ``I am 
pleased that Entergy has contributed to the sustainability of the 
Prosperity Center, which will give local residents access to the kind 
of critical services that can be life changing. As lives change for the 
better, so do communities.''
  According to the ALICE Report, the study of financial hardship 
conducted with the help of our partners at Entergy, low-wage jobs 
continue to dominate our local economy while basic costs of living 
continue to outpace wages. In Orleans Parish, 27 percent of our 
neighbors are living below the Federal Poverty Line, while more than 
half are living below the ALICE threshold (Asset Limited, Income 
Constrained, Employed). These families and individuals include men and 
women, young and old, and myriad races and ethnicities. They are people 
that you see each and every day--the cashier at the grocely store, the 
server at your favorite diner--many taking on two and three jobs just 
to make ends meet. ALICE is unable to save for the future and is just 
one medical emergency, one car repair, or one harsh storm away from 
falling into poverty themselves.
  United Way has also recognized that many of our community's social 
issues are rooted in poverty and we've put a stake in the ground around 
creating innovative solutions with our partners. United, we will 
eradicate poverty in Southeast Louisiana. And the J. Wayne Leonard 
Prosperity Center is a critical step in the right direction.
  J. Wayne Leonard saved as the former chairman and CEO of Entergy 
Corporation, and passed away September 18, 2018, in New Orleans, 
Louisiana. Born November 22, 1950, Mr. Leonard understood first hand 
the vision of this prosperity Center, growing up in Greenfield, 
Indiana. He rose from humble childhood beginnings to become CEO of a 
Fortune 500 company and a thought-leader for environmental stewardship 
and fighting poverty. He was among the first leaders in the energy 
sector to call for action to stem climate change and offered policy 
solutions to address the issue. Mr. Leonard was also known for his 
humanitarian spirit and passion for social justice, giving of his time 
and money to support causes, especially ones to improve the lives of 
people living in poverty.
  On a more personal note, I am happy to work alongside the United Way 
of Southeast
  Louisiana supporting Louisiana's constituents working across the 
River Parish. Congratulations to United Way of Southeast Louisiana and 
its J. Wayne Leonard Prosperity Center continuing the vision of a 
remarkable man. May they continue to change the lives of thousands in 
the years to come.

                          ____________________