After taking a break from civic work during the last few years, Jennifer Rice is back in the saddle again with a new project – the development of the recently formed St. Tammany Hospital Foundation. “This hospital is the best-kept secret in the parish. A community hospital with all profits reinvested in technology and expansion, the institution is 50 years old and has never had a fundraising foundation board. Our efforts will allow for the continued upgrading and expansion of the facility.”

Jennifer is convinced that, once the community realizes the true significance of this important medical facility, there is no doubt that the initial goal of $2.5 million will be raised within the first 24 months.
Twenty-three years ago, she moved from the French Quarter to the northshore, “kicking and screaming.” She had tried to convince her husband, Tim, that nobody “lives” on the northshore – that it was just a nice place to visit for those odd weekends when there were no pressing social engagements. Says Jennifer, “But here I am – loving the life.”

The Rices settled in Covington, where she stayed home to raise their children, Erin, John and Ashley. Though many things have changed since they first arrived, some very important things haven’t. Covington provided a perfect place to call home. There were school bake sales and church every Sunday. “I always told my children, if you believe the world isn’t a very small place, just try to get away with something!” Jennifer laughs. She learned to ride horses, and became heavily involved in charity work. But everything changed when their youngest went off to college.

The new chapter in her life began with a move to the rolling hills of Folsom in 1990. “We put a polo field in our front yard at Innisfree Farm and really began our love affair with horses and the area,” she says. Their stable now includes racehorses, polo ponies, jumping horses and brood mares, with new foals every year. As hosts of the polo benefit for about ten years, the Rices welcomed thousands of people to their beautiful piece of heaven. Eventually, the event outgrew Innisfree Farm and Jennifer handed it off to a friend down the road.

Decreasing the amount of time and energy she devoted to charity work enabled Jennifer to pursue her real estate license with ERA Stirling Properties. She has hardly looked up since. A perpetual over-achiever, she is always at full speed – no matter what she’s doing. It wasn’t until last year that the concept of “balance” entered her life. “I try to include a blend of work, some type of sports activity, my family – which now includes daughter-in-law Lisa and grandchildren Parker and Colin – and personal spiritual time in every day,” she says.

Though still enjoying the excitement of real estate, she has resumed horse jumping and spends more quality time with her husband. “Tim and I are having more fun together than ever. My spiritual side doesn’t include church as much as it used to. The joke in my family is that I don’t make Tim go to parties – and he doesn’t make me go to church!”

Though she never expected to take on another community project like the hospital foundation, her friend Harry Warner used perfect timing in involving her in the establishment of the foundation board.
“When I did charity work in the past, I could clear a cocktail party in no time,” says Jennifer. “People would say, ‘Watch your wallet – here comes Jennifer!’ I guess people will have to start watching out for me again, because I’m back!”

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