Quota International supports service projects that assist the deaf, hard of hearing, and individuals with speech and language difficulties as well as projects that benefit disadvantaged women and children. Since Quota International of Baton Rouge was chartered in 1935, the business owners, executives, and professional women who comprise the membership have upheld the Quota motto, “To Share”. Service projects are funded by the annual Open Door Tour of Homes, which began in 1951.

Funds from the 2006 and 2007 tours have been dedicated to Boys Hope Girls Hope, specifically for the development of a local girls’ home. Boys Hope Girls Hope helps capable and motivated children-in-need to meet their full potential and become men and women for others by providing family-like homes and education through college. It was founded on the belief that a loving God cares about the life of every individual and that children have the capacity to transcend their circumstances if given a safe environment, opportunities, and loving support. The funds raised from these two tours are helping remodel and furnish the girls’ home, slated to open in summer 2007.

Since 1959, Quota has been partnering with the Baton Rouge Speech and Hearing Foundation - a full-service speech, hearing, and learning clinic that serves adults and children with all types of communication disorders related to hearing, central processing and speech disabilities. Quota’s financial contributions have helped to insure that no person, especially a child, is deprived of necessary services due to the inability to pay for those services. Quota’s contribution of two Cosmic Videophones to Our Lady of Lake Regional Medical Center Emergency Room enables non-signing individuals to communicate with the deaf and hearing impaired. The system utilizes a regular telephone headset and TV monitor and connects with a national monitoring service, allowing the health care provider to communicate immediately with a patient who is deaf or hearing impaired. Valuable and critical time waiting for an interpreter to arrive is no longer lost.

The Baton Rouge Child Advocacy Center, Parker House, YWCA Early Head Start Istrouma and Glen Oaks Teen Learning Centers, America House, the Battered Women’s Center, and Cancer Services are local programs providing services to disadvantaged women and children that have received Quota support. Quota’s contribution was important to the opening of the Baton Rouge Child Advocacy Center, which brings together social services, law enforcement, and the district attorney’s office with the shared goal of assisting children who have been victims of abuse. Both the Istrouma and Glen Oaks Teen Learning Centers have been recipients of Quota sponsorship. Quota has supported their Literacy Project, purchased baby car seats, and furnished several rooms at these centers that provide parenting, education and child care development to high school parents. Quota provided the playground equipment for Parker House, a local home for children who are in the foster care system waiting to be adopted. When the Battered Women’s Center expanded its facilities, Quota provided the funds to furnish a new bedroom. For a number of years, Quota has provided infant starter kits for Earl K. Long Hospital. New mothers receive the kits containing include new clothing, blankets, and toys.

Quota International of Baton Rouge has an active, enthusiastic membership. Members enjoy hands-on service projects such as hosting holiday parties for the children at the Battered Women’s Center, participating in the first Women’s Build project for Habitat for Humanity, making Easter baskets for Parker House and America House children, painting and landscaping at America House, and giving an appreciation luncheon to teachers and professionals at the Baton Rouge Speech and Hearing Foundation each May, which is Better Speech and Hearing month.

Quota’s philanthropic efforts continue to be successful and provide needed services to the community. There is no greater feeling than the satisfaction of providing services that make a real difference in the community while building friendships along the way.