We believe that children are the most precious thing in life, and that of all life’s meanings, they are the most convincing; and that the endurance and greatness of a civilization are limited entirely by the investment it makes in the Physical, Intellectual, and Spiritual Development of its children.

We also believe that, of all the gifts the Master of Life has granted, the greatest is not the Eye, the Ear, nor the Hand, but the Mind; that education is not merely a period in life, but a way of life; and, that the goal of an education is not simply to obtain a livelihood, but to obtain life itself.

Therefore we believe, that of all professions, the highest is that of Teacher; and that the profession of teacher should demand the Excellence, Reward, Responsibility, and Respect, that its importance dictates.

The Acadiana Educational Endowment (AEE, www.EducationAEE.org) and its affiliate, The American Public School Endowments were founded in 1989 by a group of citizens from across Acadiana as a private, independent, 501(c)3 non-profit supporting education primarily in the Louisiana Parishes (counties) of Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary and Vermilion. Believed to the the world’s first comprehensive foundation for public education, the AEE works to generate funds for all aspects of education in Acadiana, and ultimately beyond the region.

To date, the AEE+APSE have raised and distributed over $650,000 to schools in South Louisiana, comprising minigrants to teachers; support for schools ravaged by hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma, including $200,000 to completely refurnish the Chalmette High band program; funded an endowed scholarship in education at the University of Louisiana; initiated the foundation for the Young People’s String Orchestra of the Acadiana Symphony; and made substantial donations to the ASO’s Children’s Concert Series Endowment; and to the Children’s Museum of Acadiana. The AEE+APSE also created three large, innovative websites (now suspended): the events calendar CajunFun.com; the online nonprofit bookstore booksXYZ.com; and ULToday.com.

The current focus of AEE+APSE is the ‘Reading with Kids,’ program, which encourages parents to read to children, focusing on the critical prenatal to pre-kindergarten period.