Guariscos honored as philanthropists
Joy and Frank Guarisco have spent decades serving the Tri-City area through their work with multiple service organizations.
St. Mary Parish Foundation, an affiliate of Community Foundation of Acadiana, presented its 2019 Leaders in Philanthropy and Role Model awards Saturday at the Petroleum Club of Morgan City.
The Guariscos were honored as Leaders in Philanthropy. They have been married 59 years and operated their insurance business in Patterson for the past five decades. They have dedicated their time and talents to help numerous organizations over the years, said Larry Callais, board chairman of St. Mary Parish Foundation.
“Ever since I met Joy and Frank in 1980, I’ve been impressed by the examples they’ve set for all of us to follow,” Callais said.
Frank Guarisco has been a member of the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal service organization, for 62 years, having received the Grand Knight and state Knight of the Year awards. He’s also been active in the Evangeline Area Council, Boy Scouts of America and was awarded the Silver Beaver Award, Bronze Pelican Award, St. George Award, Norbert Koetting Scouting Scroll of Honor, William McGoffin Memorial Award and St. George Distinguished Citizen Award. He also coached youth sports for over 42 years.
Joy Guarisco also spent many years as a Cub Scout and Webelo Den Mother and a Eucharistic minister at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Patterson.
The couple has three children, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
“Joy has been so instrumental in everything I’ve done,” Frank Guarisco said. “She allowed me to do all those things. And she knew it was for the best of the community and our families.”
She’s the “silent partner in this relationship,” but has always been supportive of her husband’s efforts, she said.
“Everything that Frank’s ever done, I’ve never felt that he’s done it for any recognition,” Joy Guarisco said. “He’s always done it because he loved doing it.”
Also during the event, six people were recognized as the 2019 Role Models. Those honorees were Robert Allain III, Javon Charles, Robert “Bobby” Dufrene, Monica Mancuso, Kellye Patterson and Travis Richard.
Allain is a farmer in Franklin and supports many fundraisers through Church of the Assumption and Hanson Memorial High School. He’s a founding member and first president of Bridge St. Mary. Each year, he and his family provide Christmas gifts and clothing to families in need. He works to raise funds and collect items for different charities throughout St. Mary Parish.
Charles is from Bayou Vista and has had careers in restaurant management and law enforcement. He’s a certified food safety instructor and has served with the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office and Patterson Police Department. Charles, who’s running for state representative in District 50, is a member of the St. Mary Parish chapter of the NAACP and visits nursing homes in his spare time.
Dufrene is a banking officer at First National Bank of Jeanerette. He is current president of the Louisiana Shrimp & Petroleum Festival and a member of Morgan City Main Street and a founding member of Basin Brew Fest, which supports the renovation of Lawrence Park in Morgan City. He’s also received numerous civic and community leadership awards since 2011.
Mancuso is a retired educator, community advocate and small business owner. Annually, she provides school supplies and materials to teachers throughout St. Mary Parish. Since 2015, she served as a board member and president of St. Mary Excel, a community advocacy group for economic development and educational advancement. The group raised over $130,000 to fund a study with the goal of diversifying the Morgan City and Berwick area economy.
Patterson is a Morgan City resident and the owner and operator of a promotional products business in Morgan City. She’s supported numerous organizations, including being a leader of Girl Scouts and the Krewe of Nike director. For the past seven years, Patterson was president and corporate chairperson of the Morgan City Children’s Theatre where she also served as a board member.
Richard is a Berwick resident and senior vice president of M C Bank. His extensive experience in banking has led him to assist many programs in banking and financial literacy. He’s a member of the Kiwanis Club of East St. Mary where he was awarded the Distinguished President Award. He attends Holy Cross Catholic Church where he is a member of the pastoral council.