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Executive Director
Mellie Bevilacqua
Mellie Bevilacqua has served as Executive Director of the Foundation for Southeast Texas since 2014. A lifelong resident of Beaumont, Mellie has spent her adult life actively engaged in civic and nonprofit leadership, driven by a deep commitment to strengthening her community through service and philanthropy.
Under her leadership, the Foundation for Southeast Texas has experienced meaningful growth in both assets and impact, expanding its reach and increasing its ability to support nonprofits and charitable causes across the region. Mellie is passionate about connecting donors with the causes they care about and ensuring the long-term health of the philanthropic sector in Southeast Texas. She truly loves her work at The Foundation and considers it both a professional calling and a personal privilege to help steward charitable giving in the region.
In addition to her work at The Foundation, Mellie has been deeply involved in a variety of community organizations. She has served as President of the St. Anne Catholic School Home and School Board and as a board member of the Monsignor Kelly Catholic High School Alumni Board, the Lamar University Alumni Board, and the Rotary Club of Beaumont. She is also a Past President of the Southeast Texas Estate Planning Council and the Board of Directors of the Nonprofit Development Center of Southeast Texas.
Mellie continues her community involvement today through active service on the boards of the Symphony League of Beaumont, the Neches River Festival, Beaumont Main Street, the SETX Nonprofit Development Center, and the Edison Museum. A strong believer in faith-based service, she is an active member of St. Anne Catholic Church and the ACTS community.
Mellie holds a BBA in Finance from Lamar University. She is married to Sam Bevilacqua, Jr., a home builder, and together they own and operate Bevilacqua Construction. They have been married for 20 years and are the proud parents of two children: Sam, a senior at Kelly High School, and Julia, a sophomore at Kelly High School.
Mellie’s leadership, compassion, and unwavering dedication to giving back have made her a respected and valued voice in the nonprofit community of Southeast Texas.
Director of Marketing
Chrisa Atkins
Chrisa Ponthieu Atkins joined The Foundation's team in 2025. A proud Orange County native, she grew up in Bridge City, Texas, and later returned to nearby Orangefield to raise her family. Chrisa graduated from Lamar University with a Bachelor's degree in Communication, specializing in Journalism. It was during her time at Lamar—particularly through her involvement with the Zeta Tau Alpha chapter— that her passion for volunteerism and nonprofit work first took root.
She is married to her college sweetheart, Calem Atkins, and together they have three children. After taking a 13-year break from the workforce to focus on raising their family, Chrisa returned to her career with a deepened sense of purpose. Now at The Foundation, she is honored to be part of a mission-driven team working to make a meaningful impact in the lives of others. Being part of this work brings her great joy and a sense of alignment with her lifelong values of service and community.
Before stepping away to focus on her family, Chrisa served as the Director of Marketing & Leasing at Albanese Cormier Holdings and held various roles within the Student Affairs division at her beloved alma mater, Lamar University.
Outside of work and community service, Chrisa’s greatest joy is being with her family.
