The Board of Directors of the River Region Arts & Humanities Council has announced the recipients of the first grants to be awarded by the organization. and seeks grant funds as well as developing membership support in the area. This is the first year that grants have been awarded. There are 28 groups receiving funds for a wide variety of activities that are collectively called a children’s art festival. It is a festival spread out over the three parishes. Groups receiving funds are Angela Matherne of RRHS/Destrehan Plantation, Paulette Whiteman of St. Charles Schoeffner Talented Art, Elizabeth Ledet of New Sarpy Elementary, Nancy Eberle of New Sarpy Kindergarten Center, Danon Dastague, Angela Lange and Robert Fisher of Destrehan High School, Roxanne P. Fisher of St. Charles Borromeo School, Gaylynn Duplantis of Luling Elementary, Merlyna Adams of Luling Elementary, Joel Rainey of Landry Middle School, Mona Erickson of Sacred Heart of Jesus Elementary, John Taube of Landry Middle School, Bob Camba of Norco Elementary, Theresa Herrera of J. B. Martin Middle School, Claire Thames of Cammon Middle School, Mara Evert of St. James Parish Talent Program, Larry J. Bourgeois of St. Joan of Arc School, Molly Barr of Glade School, Kitty Belen of John L. Ory, Margaret Meynard of LaPlace Elementary, Melissa Boudreaux of St. Charles Catholic High, Margaret Carlson of St. John the Baptist Parish Library, Janet Tully of Ascension of Our Lord Elementary School, Dawn Held of Mt. Airy/Garyville Magnet School, Sterling Simon of Our Lady of Grace School, Nancy Giordano of Leon Godchaux Junior High School and Diane C. Jacobs of Riverside Academy. The council seeks to promote the development and encouragement of the arts and of artists in St. Charles, St. John the Baptist and St. James parishes, as well as developing a wider degree of awareness of the humanities in the River Parishes. To support that cause, the group has fund-raisers such as the Art Beaucoup and seeks grant funds as well as developing membership support in the area.