1998
Plan Baton Rouge launches a collaborative strategy with planner Andres Duany for downtown revival, resulting in nearly $1.5 billion in investments within a decade.

2001
State leaders, philanthropists, and businesses launch the Arts Block initiative to create a downtown anchor of activity.

2002
Big River Economic and Agricultural Development Alliance is created. BREADA opens the Main Street Market downtown, and now operates three farmers markets as well.

2003
Foundation-contracted consulting firm helps secure a $18.6 million federal grant to replace housing projects in Old South Baton Rouge with affordable homes, launching long-term efforts to revive inner city neighborhoods.

Citizen's Task Force on Education, which includes the Foundation, negotiates an end to the nation’s longest-running school desegregation case.

2005
Begun in 2001, the Arts Block initiative builds the Shaw Center for the Arts ($55 million), now the heart of the city’s arts. Partnered with Foundation donors are state and local government, LSU, and The Shaw Group Inc.

Plan Baton Rouge, which led revitalization in Old South Baton Rouge, blueprints the return of communities between LSU and downtown.

In efforts ongoing today, the Foundation gathers the health care community to combat the city’s rate of new AIDS cases—the second highest per capita nationally. The AIDS rate drops under “Protect Yourself Baton Rouge” awareness campaign.

From donors around the world, the Foundation raises more than $45 million for Hurricanes Katrina and Rita responses. First, funds are used to care for storm victims directly, then for long-term rebuilding and recovery: local and regional plans, mental health counseling, reports for overhauling health care, choosing an airport transportation strategy, among other things.

2006
The Wilbur Marvin Foundation, holder of the Foundation’s assets, opens the rehabilitated Capitol House as the Hilton, removing blighted property from the riverfront and expanding lodging for increased convention business.

To promote African American literature and honor a legend of the written word, donors create the Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence. The first winner, Olympia Vernon, is from Louisiana.

The Northshore Community Foundation is formed to grow philanthropy in St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Washington and St. Helena parishes. With more than $10 million in assets now, the new nonprofit plans to rebuild a poor neighborhood in Covington.

2007
The Wilbur Marvin Foundation starts construction of 12 lofts and 5,000 square feet of office space on the Arts Blocks. With apartments finished in 2009, the offices will be home to the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge.

With Mayor Kip Holden, the Foundation spearheads the East Baton Rouge Redevelopment Authority to speed rehabilitation of the inner city. In 2009, the Authority hired staff and began seeking $125 million in federal tax credits.

The Foundation supports the Community Foundation of Southwest Louisiana to expand philanthropy in Calcasieu, Beauregard, Allen, Cameron and Jeff Davis parishes. Based in Lake Charles, the foundation grows from $300,000 to over $6 million in assets today.

2008
To guide downtown’s rebirth for the next decade, Plan Baton Rouge Phase II is launched with grants from the Foundation, the city, and others.

Annual quality of life report is initiated. First issued in 2009, it uses 50 statistical indicators to measure progress in East Baton Rouge Parish.

After Hurricane Gustav, Foundation staff assesses needs of the region, delivers supplies to shelters, and raises over $700,000 for relief work. The Foundation’s partner relations department now advises on state standards for shelters.

2009
Collaborating with animal welfare groups, Foundation begins No Kill Baton Rouge, a project to eliminate euthanasia of healthy and treatable dogs and cats. Commercial Properties starts Yelp BR, a dog adoption program that will lead to thousands of dogs being saved from being put down.

Foundation's LRA Support group agrees to fund studies that seek to improve Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport and search for industries that Louisiana can uniquely build on to offset the slow decline of traditional job sectors.