Recognizing the Grand Re-Opening of the United Way of Southeast Louisiana J. Wayne Leonard Prosperity Center

Floor Speech

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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.

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