07/Mar/2008
Long Time Resident and Business Owner Has Drive To Help Others
By Summer Suleiman
The only thing more admirable than a man who diligently worked his way from the bottom to the top is a man who has a sincere passion to help others.
Louis Dejohn has played an integral role not only in helping the Central community but also in helping other communities as well. From helping raise money for fire trucks to send to the New York City Fire Department after 9/11 to helping raise more than $300,000 for the Central Community School District, Dejohn has worked hard to give big.
Working His Way Up
Louis Dejohn began working at his father’s mechanical business when he was 15. He began as an apprentice and worked his way through the ranks. He attended LSU for three years with plans of attending medical school upon graduation.
But in January 1969, those plans changed. He began working full time at Louis Mechanical. Dejohn was called by the need to work. After working a variety of positions including a common laborer, journeymen and project manager, Dejohn became president of the company in 1983.
The Need to Help
Years later, Dejohn’s need to work would transform into a drive to help others. After witnessing the events following the Sept. 11 attacks on the U.S., Dejohn felt compelled to help.
“I felt a passion that every person alive probably felt. They just didn’t say why don’t we do this, and I did,” Dejohn said. “Sept. 11 taught me how to get involved.”
Dejohn decided to collaborate with other plumbers in Central and begin brainstorming for ways to help. Dejohn’s colleague, Ronny Bonnecaze, suggested the idea to have a jambalaya dinner to help raise funds for New York’s Fire Department. The jambalaya dinner turned into a cook-off called “Bucks for Trucks,” which raised $81,000.
“I thought if we could come together, we could do a bigger and better job. If we could unite our city and industry, we could help in a big way,” Dejohn said.
Help Continues
They found an idea that worked and they stuck with it. The committee continued to use the same principle in any way they could to help.
Four years after 9/11, much of southern Louisiana was devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Dejohn and his colleagues fell back on their idea once more. They held another cook-off, titled “Cookin’ for Our Neighbors” and raised $191,000 for the St. Bernard Parish School System that lost all of their buses in the hurricanes. The money raised from the cook-off allowed them to purchase three new school buses.
Cookin’ for Our Kids
This charitable fever spread throughout Central and residents were eager to get involved.
“We wanted to know what would be the next cause we could help,” Dejohn said.
At the time, Central’s new public school district was just developing. Dejohn and the committee used the same idea and designated the next cook off as “Cookin’ for Our Kids.” The third cook-off was a success and raised $331,000 for the new school district.
This year, the committee has decided to help fund technology education in all of the schools in Central. “Cookin for Our Kids Part II” will be the fourth cook-off that Central has hosted.
“I believe everyone has a basic need or want to give. And sometimes people may want to, but don’t know how,” Dejohn said. “And other times, they don’t know what their money will help. This way, everyone’s funds go directly to the cause they wish to help,” Dejohn said.
All food and drinks are donated and cooked by Central residents. Some of the food available consists of jambalaya, ham, fried turkey and crawfish. This year’s projected goal is to raise $250,000.
Dejohn was moved by the idea to help others, and it doesn’t seem like a trend that is likely to fade away. “Cookin’ for Our Kids” is an event sparked by the genuine desire of one man’s vision and a city supporting that vision to help those in need.
“I don’t do this for recognition. I do this because I like to give big, and you can’t give as big by yourself, as you can with others,” Dejohn said.
By Summer Suleiman
The only thing more admirable than a man who diligently worked his way from the bottom to the top is a man who has a sincere passion to help others.
Louis Dejohn has played an integral role not only in helping the Central community but also in helping other communities as well. From helping raise money for fire trucks to send to the New York City Fire Department after 9/11 to helping raise more than $300,000 for the Central Community School District, Dejohn has worked hard to give big.
Working His Way Up
Louis Dejohn began working at his father’s mechanical business when he was 15. He began as an apprentice and worked his way through the ranks. He attended LSU for three years with plans of attending medical school upon graduation.
But in January 1969, those plans changed. He began working full time at Louis Mechanical. Dejohn was called by the need to work. After working a variety of positions including a common laborer, journeymen and project manager, Dejohn became president of the company in 1983.
The Need to Help
Years later, Dejohn’s need to work would transform into a drive to help others. After witnessing the events following the Sept. 11 attacks on the U.S., Dejohn felt compelled to help.
“I felt a passion that every person alive probably felt. They just didn’t say why don’t we do this, and I did,” Dejohn said. “Sept. 11 taught me how to get involved.”
Dejohn decided to collaborate with other plumbers in Central and begin brainstorming for ways to help. Dejohn’s colleague, Ronny Bonnecaze, suggested the idea to have a jambalaya dinner to help raise funds for New York’s Fire Department. The jambalaya dinner turned into a cook-off called “Bucks for Trucks,” which raised $81,000.
“I thought if we could come together, we could do a bigger and better job. If we could unite our city and industry, we could help in a big way,” Dejohn said.
Help ContinuesThey found an idea that worked and they stuck with it. The committee continued to use the same principle in any way they could to help.
Four years after 9/11, much of southern Louisiana was devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Dejohn and his colleagues fell back on their idea once more. They held another cook-off, titled “Cookin’ for Our Neighbors” and raised $191,000 for the St. Bernard Parish School System that lost all of their buses in the hurricanes. The money raised from the cook-off allowed them to purchase three new school buses.
Cookin’ for Our Kids
This charitable fever spread throughout Central and residents were eager to get involved.
“We wanted to know what would be the next cause we could help,” Dejohn said.
At the time, Central’s new public school district was just developing. Dejohn and the committee used the same idea and designated the next cook off as “Cookin’ for Our Kids.” The third cook-off was a success and raised $331,000 for the new school district.
This year, the committee has decided to help fund technology education in all of the schools in Central. “Cookin for Our Kids Part II” will be the fourth cook-off that Central has hosted. “I believe everyone has a basic need or want to give. And sometimes people may want to, but don’t know how,” Dejohn said. “And other times, they don’t know what their money will help. This way, everyone’s funds go directly to the cause they wish to help,” Dejohn said.
All food and drinks are donated and cooked by Central residents. Some of the food available consists of jambalaya, ham, fried turkey and crawfish. This year’s projected goal is to raise $250,000.
Dejohn was moved by the idea to help others, and it doesn’t seem like a trend that is likely to fade away. “Cookin’ for Our Kids” is an event sparked by the genuine desire of one man’s vision and a city supporting that vision to help those in need.
“I don’t do this for recognition. I do this because I like to give big, and you can’t give as big by yourself, as you can with others,” Dejohn said.
No comments yet