Each Wednesday, L’Observateur recognizes individuals and businesses in the River Parishes who have gone “above and beyond” in their efforts to make this a better place to live, work, play and raise a family.

We believe an integral part of a community’s wellbeing is an attitude and arena where people who do good things … who work to improve life for others … who try to make a difference … are recognized and saluted.

Because this is a salute to members of the community of the entire River Parishes, we solicit your recommendations for groups or individuals to be considered for inclusion.

This week we salute:

• The River Region Arts and Humanities Council for their unique Mad Hatter Tea Party fundraiser held earlier this month at San Francisco Plantation in Garyville. The group regularly holds fundraiser throughout the year to benefit the council’s grants programs. The council annually awards about $30,000 in grants throughout the River Parishes.

• First Lady of Louisiana Supriya Jindal and Marathon Petroleum for helping to fund purchase and installation of five interactive whiteboards at Emily C. Watkins School in LaPlace. Jindal’s charitable foundation, the Supriya Jindal Foundation for Louisiana’s Children, has helped bring technological advances to several schools throughout the state.

• The St. James Career and Technology Center at Lutcher High School for organizing another successful Cajun/Creole Day for juniors and seniors and Lutcher and St. James High Schools. The event exposed students in the program to an assortment of artistic, culinary and practical traditions of the past.

• St. James Hospital CEO Mary Ellen Pratt for being selected to the 2011 Rural Health Fellows Program. Pratt is one of 12 rural health professionals selected to participate in the year-long program designed to develop leadership for rural America.