Donna M. Saurage | Louisiana Legends: The Series | 2022
Donna M. Saurage
Philanthropist and Community Coffee Company Owner
Donna M. Saurage is a community activist and philanthropist, having served within nonprofit sector for over 55 years. She currently serves as a Trustee of Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University, the Angelina and Huey Wilson Foundation, the Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center Foundation, and the First Presbyterian Church Foundation; and is a Board Member of New Schools for Baton Rouge (NSBR), Public Affairs Research Council (PAR) and Dream Teachers.
Saurage also serves on the board of family-owned, 100-year-old Community Coffee Company and is the Manager of CCC Holding, L.L.C.
She is an advisor and seminar presenter on the subjects of Board Governance, Board Development, Building Effective Boards and Philanthropy. Saurage has held leadership positions with more than 50 nonprofit organizations dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for the citizens in our state.
Previously, she was involved in project development in the for-profit sector when she designed, built and operated six retail coffee, tea and gift specialty stores for Community Coffee Company. Saurage was also responsible for the start-up of the first all-suite hotel in Baton Rouge, The Residence Inn, where she served as General Manager from 1983-1985. She also worked as a headhunter for a local recruiting firm.
In recognition of her efforts in the field of voluntarism, she has been honored with: the 2015 Golden Deeds Award by the Advocate and the Inner Civic Council; Volunteer Activist by the Baton Rouge Speech and Hearing Foundation; Sustainer of the Year by the Junior League of Baton Rouge; Brotherhood Award by the National Conference of Christians and Jews; Community Leadership Award by Leadership Greater Baton Rouge Alumni; Louisiana Heroine by the Louisiana Association of Nonprofit Organizations; Woman of Achievement by the YWCA; Baton Rouge High School Hall of Fame by BRHS Alumni Association; Hillar C. Moore, Jr. Outstanding Service Award by Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center; Solaris Award from Family Road; Live, Learn and Change the World Award from Boys Hope Girls Hope of Baton Rouge; Baton Rouge Original Award from Forum 35; Community Champion Award from the Baton Rouge Area Chamber and Influential Women in Business Award from the Baton Rouge Business Report, and the Ed Steimel Achievement Award from the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry.
Donna Saurage and her late husband Norman were recipients of the Alexis de Tocqueville Award from the Capital Area United Way in 2015.
source