{"id":16611,"date":"2026-06-05T02:05:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-05T00:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stocks-future.com\/?guid=81b26109f7a1023926694bf69dec7ad1"},"modified":"2026-06-05T02:05:00","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T00:05:00","slug":"woodside-lead-councils-support-senior-wellness-and-domestic-violence-prevention-in-southwest-louisiana","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stocks-future.com\/?p=16611","title":{"rendered":"Woodside LEAD Councils Support Senior Wellness and Domestic Violence Prevention in Southwest Louisiana"},"content":{"rendered":"

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Woodside Energy\u2019s LEAD (Leadership Enrichment and Development) Councils have awarded $40,000 in community grants to two Louisiana nonprofits that address senior wellness and domestic violence prevention. Each initiative reflects Woodside\u2019s commitment to leadership development in Southwest Louisiana and delivers meaningful, long-term impact through locally driven solutions.<\/p><\/a><\/a>

\nLEAD is designed to identify and cultivate the next generation of community leaders by empowering high school students with resources, mentorship and real-world experience. Through the program, two high school student councils each receive a $20,000 grant and work with community stakeholders to design and execute projects that address local needs.<\/p>

\n\u201cWoodside\u2019s LEAD Program is about more than a grant; it\u2019s about equipping young people with the skills, confidence, and support to lead with purpose while enabling a stronger, more resilient community,\u201d said Woodside President Louisiana LNG Sarah Bairstow. \u201cAcross both projects, the students demonstrated the foundational leadership skills of empathy, integrity and accountability. Their work will continue to benefit the Southwest Louisiana community for years to come.\u201d<\/p>

\nSupporting Senior Health and Connection with Calcasieu Council on Aging<\/b><\/p>

\nThe Washington-Marion Magnet High School LEAD Council partnered with the Calcasieu Council on Aging (CCOA) and leveraged their grant to improve access to healthy food and outdoor gathering spaces for seniors in Lake Charles.<\/p>

\nThe LEAD Council installed eight elevated garden beds and new outdoor seating at the Lake Charles Senior Center and Whispering Hope Senior Living Facility. The improvements provide seniors with fresh produce while creating inviting spaces for recreation, social connection and overall wellness.<\/p>

\n\u201cThe LEAD students didn\u2019t just build garden beds and benches, they created a space for connection, wellness, and activity for the seniors we serve,\u201d said CCOA Executive Director Jackie Green. \u201cWe\u2019re grateful to Woodside and the LEAD Program for investing in meaningful, lasting impact in our community.\u201d<\/p>

\n\u201cOutdoor spaces give senior citizens a place to get out and socialize, and having access to fresh fruits and vegetables gives them a healthy choice,\u201d said Washington-Marion LEAD Council member Iyannah Sterling. \u201cPartnering with CCOA through the Woodside LEAD Program has been incredibly rewarding, empowering us to create meaningful change and truly impact our community.\u201d<\/p>

\nAdvancing Domestic Violence Prevention with Oasis a Safe Haven<\/b><\/p>

\nThe Sulphur High School LEAD Council partnered with Oasis a Safe Haven to support domestic violence prevention, survivor care and survivor healing across Southwest Louisiana.<\/p>

\nGuided by survivor stories and Oasis\u2019 experience, students designed a three-pillar project focused on prevention, care and healing. Their efforts included the EmpowerHER educational event for girls and women, assembling care packages to address the basic needs of survivors in crisis, and refurbishing Oasis\u2019 butterfly garden to support survivor healing and restoration.<\/p>

\n\u201cThis year, the Woodside LEAD Program has shown me the importance of women\u2019s empowerment and raising awareness about the issue of domestic violence,\u201d said Sulphur High School LEAD Council member Charley Benny. \u201cThis LEAD Council project will continue to make women feel seen and heard within our community.\u201d<\/p>

\nWhen asked about her reaction to the Woodside LEAD Council students taking on the issue of domestic violence, Oasis Assistant Director Ashley Williams replied: \u201cI was incredibly moved. It\u2019s not an easy topic to take on, and the fact that these young ladies chose to lean into it with such openness and compassion really stood out to me. From the moment they interviewed me, it was clear they were thoughtful, engaged, and genuinely wanted to understand how they could make a difference. Seeing young women step into this kind of leadership gives me so much hope.\u201d<\/p>

\nAbout Calcasieu Council on Aging<\/b><\/p>

\nFounded in the early 1980s, Calcasieu Council on Aging is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for older adults in Calcasieu Parish. CCOA provides essential services including senior centers, home-delivered meals, transportation, caregiver support, and advocacy to help seniors remain active, independent, and connected.<\/p>

\nAbout Oasis a Safe Haven<\/b><\/p>

\nOasis a Safe Haven is a local nonprofit serving survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault throughout Southwest Louisiana. The organization provides free, confidential services including crisis intervention, emergency shelter, counselling, and legal and medical advocacy, while advancing prevention, education, and survivor-centered care.<\/p>

\nAbout Woodside Energy<\/b><\/p>

\nWoodside is a global energy company. Driven by a spirit of innovation and determination, we established the liquefied natural gas industry in Australia in the 1980s. We provide the energy the world needs to heat homes, keep the lights on and support industry. Today, our strategy is to thrive through the energy transition with a resilient and diversified portfolio of oil, gas and new energy projects in Australia, North America and Africa.<\/p> Contacts<\/b>

\nMedia contacts<\/b><\/p>

\nAustralia<\/span>Christine Abbott\nM: +61 484 112 469\nE: christine.abbott@woodside.com<\/a><\/p>

\nUnited States<\/span>Rob Young\nM: +1 281 790 2805\nE: robert.young@woodside.com<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

HOUSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Woodside Energy\u2019s LEAD (Leadership Enrichment and Development) Councils have awarded $40,000 in community grants to two Louisiana nonprofits that address senior wellness and domestic violence prevention. Each initiative reflec…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16611","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-infos-businesswire"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stocks-future.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16611","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stocks-future.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stocks-future.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stocks-future.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stocks-future.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=16611"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/stocks-future.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16611\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16612,"href":"https:\/\/stocks-future.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16611\/revisions\/16612"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stocks-future.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=16611"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stocks-future.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=16611"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stocks-future.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=16611"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}