On December 5, 2024, our school community gathered to celebrate our 39th Founders Banquet, an event held to acknowledge the incredible generosity of our gracious donors. This year, we inducted Mr. Ryan D. “Jume” Jumonville ’91 into the CHS Hall of Fame.

Ryan D. "Jume" Jumonville was born to Dan and Carla Jumonville and grew up in Baton Rouge alongside his older sister and St. Joseph Academy graduate, M’Elaine Wright. He attended St. Thomas More Elementary School, where he discovered a passion for sports as he helped lead the Eagles to the Catholic league championship. In 1987, he enrolled at Catholic High School, where he achieved All-District, All-Parish, and All-State honors. He was a Louisiana State Champion, ranked as the number one javelin thrower in the South, and was the only high school thrower invited to the Junior Olympic Trials where he finished on the podium. He was part of a CHS Track & Field Championship and a State Championship appearance in football, the first in the near 100 year history of the school. As a result of his achievements, Catholic High inducted him into the Grizzly Greats athletic hall of fame. Jumonville was recognized as one of the nation's top two-sport recruits, receiving offers from schools in every major college conference and the Ivy League. 

In 1991, Jumonville committed to the University of Tennessee Volunteers. He made an immediate impact as a freshman by scoring points in every competition for the Vols as the team finished as runner-up in the SEC and NCAA Championships. Jume was named to the Dean’s List, received the James Snow Outstanding Academic Freshman Award, and was named to the All-SEC team. Despite throwing for only two years, he etched his name in the history books coming in at third place on Tennessee’s All-Time list, securing him a place on the Tennessee Wall of Fame. 

Jumonville began his career at Louisiana Dental Plan, a family-owned business, eventually taking over as CEO in his second year and expanding it into the largest dental plan in Louisiana. In 1995, he founded United Networks of America (UNA) which grew into one of the largest healthcare companies in the United States, with over 240,000 participating providers serving over 120 million people across the U.S. and select U.S. territories. Jumonville holds ownership stakes in four private equity firms and a venture capital firm.  Jume has significant direct ownership in over 50 companies around the world. Jumonville’s ownership stake in AC Milan, one of the most iconic soccer clubs in the world, is another testament to his diverse investment portfolio. Today, Jumonville has business interests in all 50 U.S. states and in 136 countries around the world.  

Jumonville continues to make a significant impact on healthcare accessibility in the United States through his prescription drug card assistance programs that were launched over 20 years ago. These initiatives, designed to reduce the financial burden of medication costs, have collectively saved U.S. residents more than $2 billion dollars. By creating and distributing free prescription drug cards, Jumonville has enabled countless individuals and families, particularly those uninsured or underinsured, to access essential medications at reduced costs.

Jumonville is deeply committed to philanthropy. While he supports a wide range of non-profits, he has a special focus on children's healthcare. This dedication led him to become the fastest member to reach the Million Miracle Club for Children's Miracle Network (CMN) Hospitals. In helping to combat food insecurity for the children of Louisiana he donated a million meals to local food banks. 

Partnering with his former Catholic High School teammate and friend Warrick Dunn, he made a record-breaking donation to Warrick Dunn Charities’ “Homes for the Holidays” program, sponsoring over 100 homes to help single parents achieve their dream of home ownership.

Jumonville made another record-breaking donation to the Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation (DCWAF) which helps to support over a dozen Northwest Florida children’s charities through hosting world-class wine and culinary events. Through these efforts, DCWAF has positively impacted the lives of more than 100,000 children in the area. A significant portion of his donation established the Jumonville Family Children’s Fund, ensuring the long-term sustainability of both the organization and its partner charities.

One of Jumonville’s latest philanthropic initiatives is The Jume College, an agriculture college in Kitale, Kenya.  Launched in collaboration with OTEPIC Kenya Peace Project, this school teaches regenerative farming methods to people in the region. Through ongoing training, it empowers farmers to increase food self-sufficiency, adopt sustainable practices, enhance biodiversity, engage with their community, and reduce their ecological footprint. Jume has also personally funded the construction of water wells in Africa as part of this project. 

Jume has a deep commitment to supporting military and law enforcement charities. He has provided life-changing scholarships to the spouses and children of America’s fallen military members. He supports a number of charities dedicated to helping those men and women that protect and serve this country. Jume single-handedly funded the construction of Stronghold SOF Solutions (SOF S3), a world-class training facility managed and staffed by veterans from every branch of U.S. Special Operations Forces. Stronghold provides specialized tactical training for U.S. special forces, government agencies, and law enforcement. The 50-acre, modernized facility leverages technology and innovation to help save lives.

Most recently, Jumonville paid to eliminate over $100 million dollars of medical debt for residents of Florida. Recipients received letters notifying them that their medical bills had been “paid in full” thanks to a charitable gift, which also relieved them of any potential tax implications. Inspired by Jumonville’s generosity, his good friend and fellow Tennessee Volunteer, as well as Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Todd Helton, partnered with him to eliminate an additional $10 million in medical debt for residents in Colorado.

Jumonville’s drive to make an even greater impact led him to join The Giving Pledge in 2019. Founded by Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett, this philanthropic initiative now includes over 240 signatories. It brings together the world’s wealthiest and most philanthropic individuals and families who have publicly committed to giving the majority of their wealth back to charitable causes. 

Ryan and his wife Raven live in Florida with their four children, Jayden, Gavin, Ethan, and Nathan and their seven beloved rescue dogs.