The Taste of Louisiana Moves to Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center
Event Raises Over $80,000 for Mary Bird Perkins Cancer
Photo available for download. Captions available at end of release.
(Baton Rouge) - On Monday night, April 23, The Taste of Louisiana kicked off the NTG Classic presented by LEMIC Insurance Company -- a series of golf fund-raising activities for Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, including a WAFB-sponsored golf tournament, Coca-Cola Junior Golf Clinic and a raffle for $10,000.
Underwritten by Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center and presented by Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center, sponsors of the event and their guests, along with friends of the Center, enjoyed the traditional sampling of South Louisiana foods that is the trademark of The Taste of Louisiana. This year marked the first time the event was held in a new venue. “The ‘Taste’ is so well-attended that it outgrew the space available at Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center,” said Bunnie Cannon, The Taste of Louisiana co-chair. “We are thrilled that the new Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center opened its doors to us for this ever popular event.”
Baton Rouge’s top restaurants and caterers generously providing an array of their signature dishes this year included: Addicted to Chocolate, Bistro Byronz, Bonefish Grill, Camelot Club, Chef KD Louisiana Legends, The Kingfish Restaurant, Mike Anderson’s Seafood, Ninfa’s Mexican Restaurant, Ruffino’s Italian Restaurant, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Sharing Shores, TJ Ribs, The University Club Grill and Wild Olive Catering.
Beverages were courtesy of Baton Rouge Coca-Cola, Glazers Wholesale Liquor and Mockler Beverage-Budweiser.
The Taste of Louisiana Co-Chairs were Bunnie Cannon and Nancy Little. Committee members assisting them were Caroline Barry, Gretchen Fairbanks, Margo Jolet, Rhetta Sellers, Wendy Shiroda and Cheryl Shuffield.
Emcee for the evening was WAFB’s Steve Schneider.
The evening also included a silent and live auction. Charles Landry, John Spain and Michael Trufant hosted the live auction which featured an all-inclusive week for four at the Ritz-Carlton at Kapalua on Maui; traditional Southern quail hunt for 12 sportsmen at Covey Rise Lodge; LSU football game day package for four – LSU vs. South Carolina with a team meal and sideline passes; two Trophy Club tickets to the 2007 U.S. Open in Oakmont, PA, June 11-17; gourmet dinner for eight from Chef Don Bergeron’s Catering; Baum-Mercier designer woman’s 18K gold Milleis watch; fishing excursions; a duck hunt, and much more.
Music was provided by the Brandon Hays Trio.
The evening concluded with a drawing for the winner of a $10,000 raffle. All 300 tickets were sold in advance. Sara Easterly -- a steadfast supporter of the Center -- held the winning ticket.
All proceeds from The Taste benefit Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center’s C.A.R.E. Network of patient services and community outreach programs.
###
About Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center:
Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center has been fighting cancer for over 35 years. It is the only independent, nonprofit cancer treatment, education and research facility in Louisiana providing state of the art radiation therapy to all community residents regardless of ability to pay. Mary Bird Perkins has integrated cancer programs with Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Center in Baton Rouge and St. Tammany Parish Hospital in Covington. These programs are accredited by the American College of Surgeons –
the gold standard for community-based cancer care. The Center also enjoys a long-standing relationship with North Oaks Hospital in Hammond.
About the C.A.R.E. Network:
The mission of the C.A.R.E. Network (Cancer Support Services, Awareness and Education, Research and Early Detection) is to lessen the burden of cancer in the community. Established in 2002, it is funded by gifts from the community and provides hundreds of programs and services, including free cancer screenings, to thousands of people every year. The research and academic medical physics partnership with MBP and Louisiana State University is also funded in part by the C.A.R.E. Network. The Center has locations in Baton Rouge, Covington and Hammond.
Photo 1 Caption
Scott Thompson, NTG; Linda Thompson; Connie Schiller; John Schiller, Chairman, NTG Classic.
Photo 2 Caption
David Cresson, OLOL Foundation; Bob Greer, LEMIC Insurance; Todd Stevens, MBPCC.