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”. For more than 50 years, service projects were funded by the annual Open Door Tour of Homes. In 2010, the inaugural Frocks & Frolics High Tea was held and now serves as the club’s major annual fundraising event.

The Autism Program at the Baton Rouge Speech and Hearing Foundation was the recipient of the funds raised at the first Frocks & Frolics. Since 1959, Quota has been partnering with the 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.

Recipients of funds from Quota’s final three Open Door Tours were Boys Hope Girls Hope, O’Brien House, and the Baton Rouge Speech and Hearing Foundation. Boys Hope Girls Hope used their funds to help remodel and furnish the girls’ home and establish an academic fund to cover tuition and other expenses at the private schools that the girls attend. The mission of O’Brien House is to education the community about alcohol, drugs, and healthy lifestyles. Quota was a major sponsor of O’Brien House’s Single Mother’s Conference with the goal of empowering more women to take control of their lives. The Baton Rouge Speech and Hearing Foundation used their tour funds to provide more elderly and near elderly clients on fixed incomes with the gift of hearing, necessary evaluations, and hearing aid maintenance and repair.

Numerous local programs providing services to disadvantaged women and children have received Quota support. Organizations and their projects receiving recent funding have included:

Quota International of Baton Rouge has an active, enthusiastic membership. Members enjoy hands-on service projects such as adopting a family at Christmas time through Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Baton Rouge. For more than ten years, members have made Easter baskets for the children at Parker House. The club also provides infant starter kits to Earl K. Long Hospital. New mothers receive the kits containing new clothing, blankets, and toys. The Easter basket and infant starter kit projects have received service excellence awards from Quota International.

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.