Press Release: Catholic Charities of Acadiana Acquires Second Campus, In Part Through Transformational Restricted Gifts
Acquisition of 730 East Kaliste Saloom will consolidate key Catholic Charities of Acadiana regional programs under one roof and right-size the organization's infrastructure to match its growth since 2019
LAFAYETTE, La. — Catholic Charities of Acadiana today announced the acquisition of a second campus, located at 730 East Kaliste Saloom, a major milestone that will bring many of the organization's regionally focused programs together under one roof for the first time and better position it to serve the wider Acadiana region for decades to come.
The Kaliste Saloom Road campus, formerly home to C&C Technologies and Oceaneering, includes a large office building, a large adjoining warehouse suitable for regional storage and response operations warehouse, secure fenced parking for movable equipment, 248 parking spaces, and three acres of undeveloped land for future expansion. The campus will house the organization's community resilience programs, serve as its regional response warehouse, and provide space for administrative offices.
The campus will also serve as Catholic Charities of Acadiana's centralized Volunteer Center and Donation Center, replacing a patchwork of donation drop-off locations and improvised storage sites with a permanent hub for volunteers and donated goods.
The acquisition was made possible by two transformational restricted gifts from donors who specifically designated their contributions for the purchase of this property and for long-term infrastructure investment. Community Foundation of Acadiana played a strategic role throughout the acquisition, working closely with Catholic Charities of Acadiana and one of the donors to ensure the gift's timing and structure aligned with both the donor's long-term intent and the needs of the moment. One of the two capital gifts for the acquisition was facilitated by Community Foundation of Acadiana on behalf of an anonymous donor.
"Stewardship is at the heart of CFA's work, and this gift reflects a relationship and a thoughtful decision that developed over many years," said Missy Bienvenu, President and CEO of Community Foundation of Acadiana. "This was not an ordinary grant, but a donor's strategic investment in the long-term strength of an organization they care deeply about. We were grateful to help steward that generosity and connect it with a timely opportunity for Catholic Charities of Acadiana. It's one that will strengthen its capacity to serve our community for generations to come."
The acquisition of 730 East Kaliste Saloom is the signature pillar of Catholic Charities of Acadiana's 50 Years of Serving capital campaign, a broader effort to strengthen the organization's facilities, programs, and long-term capacity. Fundraising continues for this and the campaign's other priorities.
This purchase also marks a shift from the original plan to build new facilities on the St. John Street campus. Two factors drove that change: the lead gifts were designated specifically for acquiring this property, and buying an existing facility was significantly more cost-effective than new construction. The decision reflects the same commitment to responsible stewardship and fiscal discipline that has guided the organization and its capital campaign from the start.
"These lead gifts are the direct result of donors who came to us wanting to help build our organization's capacity for the long term," said Kim Boudreaux, CEO of Catholic Charities of Acadiana. "Their generosity is an act of solidarity with our neighbors who suffer. Because of their vision, we can make this investment without diverting resources from the families and individuals who rely on us every day."
Catholic Charities of Acadiana doubled in size in 2019 through mergers and acquisitions of four existing, regionally focused non-profits. Since then, many of its teams have operated from leased facilities that were never designed to support the scale or complexity of their work.
"Since 2019, our staff have made it work out of leased buildings, shared quarters, and storage spaces that were never intended to support the mission we carry out every day," Boudreaux said. "Our faith calls us to honor both the dignity of work and the dignity of the people who do it. This campus is about right-sizing our infrastructure to match the organization we've become and giving our staff the stable, dignified workspace they deserve. It also ensures the communities we serve have an organization built to last."
Boudreaux added that consolidating these regional program operations onto a single, owned campus will strengthen the organization's financial sustainability by reducing the recurring costs of leasing multiple facilities.
"Every dollar we no longer spend on rent is a dollar we can reinvest in our mission," Boudreaux said. "This is a one-time investment in permanence that will pay dividends in service, stewardship, and stability for generations to come."
About Catholic Charities of Acadiana
Catholic Charities of Acadiana has served as an organizer of charity in South Louisiana for more than 50 years. Since 1973, the organization has cared for the sacred gift of all human life, especially the most vulnerable, through programs that address homelessness, hunger, poverty, and situational crisis across Acadiana. Its work represents a response to the Gospel call to live out the corporal works of mercy: feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, offering hospitality to the homeless, caring for the sick, visiting the imprisoned, and burying the dead.
# # #