By Stacey Tinsley, Bossier Press-Tribune
United Way of Northwest Louisiana (UWNWLA) brought together community leaders, donors, and supporters for a night of celebration at Tails & Ales: A Celebration of Impact, held on Thursday, March 20, 2025, at the Paradise Theater inside Margaritaville Resort Casino Bossier City.
Presented by Margaritaville Resort Casino, the annual event honored UWNWLA’s top supporters and highlighted the organization’s 2024 fundraising and impact results. Guests enjoyed a lively evening featuring a seafood boil, live music by Everett Street Jazz, raffle prizes, and a recognition ceremony.
“We are incredibly grateful for the individuals and businesses that contribute their time, talent, and resources to help our organization thrive,” said UWNWLA President & CEO LaToria W. Thomas. “This event allows us to express our appreciation while celebrating the impact we’ve made together in our community.”
One of the evening’s highlights was the presentation of the Clyde E. Fant Memorial Award, a prestigious honor given annually since 1949 to individuals who demonstrate outstanding volunteerism and leadership through United Way initiatives. This year’s recipient was Sonja Bailes, Public Relations Liaison for Bossier Parish Schools, recognized for her dedication and service to the community.
“Serving others is what gives me joy and makes life meaningful, so it is a struggle to find the right words to express how incredibly honored I am to receive the Clyde E. Fant Memorial Award. During a sermon, I was struck by something the pastor said and wrote it down. ‘What we have done for ourselves dies with us,’ he said. ‘What we have done for others’ lives on and is immortal.’ While we may never know the impact even the smallest acts of kindness may have on our neighbors in need, it matters. It is my belief that by serving others beyond ourselves, and presenting our young people with those opportunities, we are cultivating tomorrow’s philanthropists that make our community stronger and all of us better,” said Bailes.
Past recipients of the award include Virginia K. Shehee (1975), Mary Ann Selber (2001), Jaf Fielder (2023), and Grant Nuckolls & Andrew Crawford (2024).
The event was made possible by generous sponsors, including Raymond James, Brentwood Hospital of Shreveport, and ANECA Federal Credit Union. Sponsors were invited to an exclusive VIP mixer before the event, creating an opportunity for networking and collaboration.
Attendees enjoyed complimentary ales from Great Raft Brewery and Eagle Distributing, as well as wine provided by Cuban Liquor. The evening also featured a raffle with exciting prizes, all contributing to UWNWLA’s mission of supporting health, education, financial stability, and essential needs across its ten-parish footprint.
Proceeds from Tails & Ales will help fund UWNWLA programs, aiding more than 100,000 lives annually. As the organization looks ahead to another year of service, events like this serve as a reminder of the power of community collaboration.
For those who missed the event but wish to support UWNWLA’s mission, donations and volunteer opportunities are available at www.unitedwaynwla.org.