CODOFIL suffered a line item veto of $100,000, nearly 40% of its budget. Be a part of the 100kLA --show that French in Louisiana is worth at least $1 to you!

The Council for the Development of French in Louisiana (CODOFIL) is the state agency charged with French language educational and cultural economic development initiatives in Louisiana. The agency has multiple legislative mandates that include francophone tourism, economic development, culture, education and international relations. On Friday June 15, 2012 a line-item veto cut $100,000 from CODOFIL’s budget (approximately 40% of its total budget) for the upcoming year. This budget cut leaves CODOFIL just enough money to pay operating costs with no room for a budget to accomplish its goals, which are

• to oversee the development and expansion of the state's economic development and tourism activities designed to promote our French culture, heritage, and language
• to promote, develop, and oversee cultural and educational relations and exchanges within the state and between the state of Louisiana and other countries, provinces, and states that share Louisiana's historical French heritage, culture and language
• to develop and expand French immersion educational environments
• to develop a certification system whereby vendors, festivals, and restaurants may be designated as 'Francophone Friendly' and design and issue a marquee that may be displayed at each entry
• to provide state government services to French speaking citizens and visitors in the French language
• to assist Louisiana citizens who speak French in dealing with and reviving services from state government so as to support the long-term sustainability of Louisiana's historic French cultural heritage
• to assist French-speaking visitors to the state and thus to promote an increase in tourism and greater investment in the state from Francophone countries

I believe that the loss of CODOFIL will be a huge blow to the growth and advancement of the French language and culture in Louisiana.  The French culture in Louisiana is a unique and precious gem that makes up much of Louisiana's cultural identity. It also contributes to a large percentage of our tourism activity. Without CODOFIL and like organizations a large piece of what makes Louisiana the great state that it is, will slowly be lost over the coming years. 

Support CODOFIL - Give to the 100kLA campaign:

100,000 CADIENS, CREOLES ET AMIS DU FRANCAIS EN LOUISIANE

http://www.indiegogo.com/100kla

The goal is to have 100,000 Cajuns + Creoles and friends of the French language in Louisiana donate $1 to help us fill the funding gap facing CODOFIL at this time. All profits will go to CODOFIL. 

You can find the Facebook Page to this project at www.facebook.com/100kLA

You can send a physical check too. Please send and make it out it to:

Le Consortium des Ecoles d'Immersion
155 Antigua Drive
Lafayette, LA 70503
Memo: CODOFIL Fundraiser

Read More about this Story:

http://www.katc.com/videoplayer/iframe.cfm?player_height=328&video_id=12898&fullhtml=0&show_date=0&height=358&show_info=1&player_width=584&has_playlist=0&overridestyle=1&width=894&total_playlist_items=1&show_title=1&show_companions=1&hide_ads=0&show_views=0&category_id=2161&show_rating=0&show_voting=0&items_per_page=1&iframe=1&auto_hide=1&has_autoplay=1&title=CODOFIL