The Al Berard Memorial Music Fund, a fund of Community Foundation of Acadiana (CFA), has launched its annual fundraising campaign for 2021. Donations will support Acadiana’s unique musical culture by providing instruments, master teachers and music scholarships to students of all ages. The fund also supports community projects that promote the cultural heritage of Acadiana.
Al Berard, 2007, photo by David Simpson
The fund honors the late Grammy-nominated Al Berard, a Cajun musician, recording artist, and composer best known for his mastery of the fiddle. Berard died in 2014 from an aneurysm at the age of 53. “His passion was to teach everyone about his love for music and the Cajun/Creole culture in which he lived,” said Laura Huval, Berard’s daughter who performs with the group Sweet Cecilia. “Through this fund his passion lives on today.”
In 2020, Sweet Cecilia, which consists of Huval and her sister Maegan Berard Rankin and cousin Callie Guidry, recorded A Tribute to Al Berard, which was nominated for Grammy in the in the Regional Roots category.
Since its inception in 2014, the Al Berard Memorial Music Fund has granted approximately $95,000 to music organizations throughout Acadiana, including the gifted/talented music programs in St. Martin Parish, Lafayette, and Vermilion Parishes, Action Cadienne, Cecilia High School Band, Louisiana Folk Roots Summer Kids Camp, NUNU Arts & Culture Collective, Cité des Arts, TRAIL, The Buddy Holly Educational Foundation, Le Reveil du Francais and Teche Center for the Arts among other organizations.
There are a variety of sponsorship levels that range from $2,500 to $250. All donations to the Al Berard Memorial Fund are tax deductible and should be made before December 31. You can view the sponsorship levels and descriptions by visiting here. Donations can be mailed to CFA, Memo: Al Berard, 1035 Camellia Boulevard, Suite 100, Lafayette, LA 70508. For more information, email donorservices@
