Taste of the Tournament Open to Public

One of Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Centers’ largest fundraisers

  (Baton Rouge, La.) The Taste of the Tournament Par-Tee and Auction, a much anticipated signature event held annually to kick off the Mary Bird Perkins Merrill Lynch Open, is quickly approaching. One of Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Centers’ largest fundraisers, the event is generously underwritten once again this year by Louisiana Lottery Corporation and presented by the Belle of Baton Rouge Casino and Hotel. The fun and festive evening will be Thursday April 19, 6:30 pm in the Capital Atrium at the Belle of Baton Rouge Casino & Hotel. Featured will be fabulous cuisine from Baton Rouge’s premier restaurants and caterers and musical entertainment by the V-Tones. Cocktails are included and dancing will be encouraged! “As a unique part of the silent auction, guests will be entertained by an artists’ showoff featuring professional artists Sarah Griffith and Liz Pou,”said Leslie Berg, one of the Honorary Chairs along with her husband Scott, and Rebecca and Dyke Nelson. “Both women will be given the same concept to interpret based on prior input from the public, which will be announced when the event commences. Their paintings will be available for silent auction bidding during the event.” Added Honorary Chair Rebecca Nelson, “This year’s auction has an array of artwork for every taste and a wide assortment of enticing items such as an Oktoberfest party, a customized pair of shoes with an accompanying naming opportunity by local shoe designer Dee Keller, and a traditional Southern quail hunt, to name just a few.” Event Co-Chairs are deSha Carter, Lauren Ferrand and Emily Mayo. A $5,000 Jewelry Shopping Spree raffle has been generously donated by Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry as part of this event. Tickets are $50 each and only 300 tickets will be sold. Tickets are available for purchase now; there is no limit to the number of tickets purchased. The winning ticket will be drawn on April 19, 2012 at the Taste of the Tournament Par-Tee and Auction. Winner need not be present. For more information, click here. Tickets for the Taste of the Tournament Par-Tee and Auction are $100 each, or $175 per couple before April 1. Proceeds from ticket and auction sales will help many people in need by providing:

• Life-saving cancer treatment services for those who otherwise could not afford it.
• Free community education and cancer screenings for medically underserved populations.
• Vital transportation services for patients who need help getting to their treatments.

For additional information, please contact Danielle Mack at (225) 215-1248 or dmack@marybird.com. Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center is a regional cancer care organization that has been fighting cancer for more than 40 years. With five centers in Baton Rouge, Covington, Hammond, Houma and Gonzales, its service area encompasses 18 parishes across southeast Louisiana.