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Laurie Panzeca
The SMH Foundation is changing the lives of community members and helping Slidell Memorial Hospital to save lives. “Our only purpose is to support the mission of Slidell Memorial Hospital, which is to improve the quality of life in our community,” says SMH Foundation Executive Director Laurie Panzeca. “We’re here to make sure patients have what they need.” Since July 2012, Laurie has been furthering that mission. However, her
Iris Blundell and Julie Portmann
Managing Director Iris Blundell and Marketing and Sales Director Julie
Portmann are two faces that have been with St. Anthony’s Gardens since the community opened in 2016. Iris and Julie both share the vision of the
passion for helping others began much earlier. She says, “As a child, I always
Archdiocese of New Orleans: to provide a beautiful senior living community
wanted a career that helped people. While I was in college, my mother was
where seniors are thriving and reaching goals they had not thought possible.
diagnosed with breast cancer, and our family found resources through local
When asked about her favorite part of her day, Iris says, “It’s seeing the
nonprofit organizations to help her treatment and recovery and also to help us
residents building relationships with one another and staff and caring for one
as caregivers. We were the beneficiaries of someone else’s generosity. Those
another. Being part of this senior living ministry and touching lives on a daily
organizations were able to provide services because someone cared enough to
basis has been one of the most truly joyous times of my life. I look forward every
donate to them.” Because of Laurie’s personal experience, the health-related
day to watching my ‘extended family’ enjoying life in this new and fun chapter!”
fundraising industry was a natural fit. Through annual fundraisers and direct donations, SMH Foundation
Working in senior living most of her career, Julie expresses her joy in assisting families when the time arises for a transition to a supported environment. Changes
depends on the community’s generosity to raise funds for life-saving
are often difficult, but Julie says her favorite part is sharing the many gifts and
equipment, community education and health screenings. “Being able to work
talents of St. Anthony’s Gardens with families and providing solutions for their loved
alongside our community members to connect them to the mission of the
ones. “St. Anthony’s Gardens offers more than an Independent Living, Assisted
foundation and the hospital has been very rewarding,” she smiles. “I’m grateful
Living and Memory Care Community. We offer a supported environment with as
that I have the ability to raise funds that will make a difference in the treatment
much or as little help as our residents would like. And, families have the assurance
and recovery of so many patients.” The foundation funds much-needed
that St. Anthony’s Gardens has the most compassionate and caring staff to assist
technology such as neonatal specialty beds, patient support programs and
their loved ones as needed, every day,” says Julie.
transportation funding, and health education programs, including the Fit as a
Julie and Iris love sharing St. Anthony’s Gardens with the local
Firefighter camp that will be held on June 3-7 for local children ages 8-12.
community. “We have hosted many organizations and meetings and love
When not serving as Executive Director, Laurie is involved further in the
giving back to our community by sharing a leading role in the Alzheimer’s
community. She is a member and past president of the Rotary Club of Slidell
Association and hosting support groups for memory care and Parkinson’s,”
Northshore, a member of the North Shore Wealth and Business Planning
Julie says. “We are always looking at new ways to share St. Anthony’s Gardens
Professionals and is a graduate of Leadership St. Tammany and Leadership
with the surrounding area.”
Northshore. A wife and mother of three, Laurie and her family are parishioners at Our Lady of the Lake Church and are active members of the Prayer Shawl Ministry.
Iris adds, “St. Anthony’s Gardens’ strength is our strong teamwork, and at the Gardens, we never stop enjoying life!”
SMH Foundation is located at 1111 Gause Blvd in Slidell.
St. Anthony’s Gardens, A Senior Living Ministry of the Archdiocese of
985-280-8820. smhfdn.org.
New Orleans, is located at 601 Holy Trinity Dr. in Covington. 985-605-5950. May-June 2019 53