Taste of Louisiana, Mary Bird Perkins Merrill Lynch Open – Winning Combo for Cancer Center
Photo available for download. Captions available at end of release.
(Baton Rouge) – On Monday night, June 2, the Hilton Capitol Center presented the Taste of Louisiana, underwritten by Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, kicking off a week of golf fundraising activities for Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, including the WAFB Pro-Am, the Mary Bird Perkins Merrill Lynch Open presented by MAPP Construction and OMNI Bank and the Coca-Cola Junior Clinic. All told, net proceeds of approximately $170,000 will go directly back to the thousands of people throughout the Center’s 15-parish service area to fight cancer through education, prevention, free early detection screenings and research.
“The Taste of Louisiana netted more than $100,000 toward furthering the treatment of cancer and its prevention,” said Jay Lyles, director, corporate and foundation giving, Mary Bird Perkins. “We couldn’t have done it without the Taste committee, the businesses and individuals who donated auction items, our sponsors, the restaurants donating food and of course those who were generous with their bids.” John Spain and Michael Trufant conducted the auction.
Randy Haddad, Mary Bird Perkins Merrill Lynch Open chair, was quite pleased with the success of the week’s events. “On behalf of the entire tournament organizing committee, I’d like to thank The University Club, the Adams Golf pros, the sponsors and our media partners WAFB-TV and Eagle 98.1. Even the heat wave couldn’t take the fun out of Baton Rouge’s premier golf event.” Haddad said being involved with the golf tournament is his way of helping others fighting a disease that claimed his own father’s life. “The money raised by sponsorships of the week’s events helps those in our community with cancer and also funds research to find a cure,” he said.
In addition to Chairman Randy Haddad, the 2008 Golf Organizing Committee consisted of Hillar Moore, Jr., founding chair; John Schiller, immediate past chair & sponsorship chair; Kurt LaCroix, vice chair, professional tournament chair; Michael Patterson, Pro-Am chair; Marielle Howard, marketing chair; Dick Briody, finance chair; Kendal Matassa, volunteer chair; Kim Ginn, food & beverage chair; Fred Reno, housing chair; Bryan Lindsay, The University Club liaison; Rebecca Nelson, Taste of Louisiana co-chair; Ginger Kurlas, Taste of Louisiana co-chair; and Brad Supple, special advisor to committee.
The WAFB Pro-Am, benefiting Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, took place at The University Club on Wednesday, June 4, in the format of a four person shamble – a team composed of three amateur golfers and a pro from the Adams Golf Pro Tour Series.
On Thursday, June 5, the $75,000 four-day event on the Adams Golf Pro Tour Series (formerly the Tight Lies Tour), began with 102 players on the roster for the seventh stop in the 18-event tour. The list included former LSU golfer and 2007 Louisiana Golf Association State Amateur champion Chris Wells as well as former Louisiana-Lafayette golfer Greg Sonnier who is from Lake Charles. A cut to the low 40s and ties was made after Friday’s round.
Following professional play on Saturday, LSU Head Golf Coach Chuck Winstead and Adams Golf Pro Tour golfers took time to share their talent with a number of aspiring young golfers at the free Coca-Cola Junior Clinic. The youngsters received an hour of personal instruction, professional tips and pointers, and a free sleeve of golf balls.
By the end of the 72-hole professional event on Sunday, June 8, South African native Dawie Van der Walt’s 20-under-par gave him a two-stroke win over Oklahoman Connie Pierce, who led the tournament entering the final day but bogeyed the 13th, 14th and 18th holes to finish second in the $75,000 Adams Golf Pro Tour Series event. Van der Walt walked away with a check for $15,000 and a Rolex GMT-MASTER II watch -- valued at over $5,000 -- as the winner of the 2008 Mary Bird Perkins Merrill Lynch Open. The event was free and open to the public.
Before presenting Van der Walt with his winnings, Mary Bird Perkins President and CEO Todd Stevens told the crowd that “Through your generous support of this event over the past 18 years, more than $1.4 million has been raised to benefit Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center. Fighting cancer for over 35 years, the Center has always provided the highest quality radiation therapy, compassionate support and comprehensive services to all patients and their families, regardless of ability to pay. Everyone involved with this event should take pride in knowing you have played an essential role in furthering the prevention and treatment of cancer.”
Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center thanks the following sponsors: Merrill Lynch; MAPP Construction, LLC; OMNI Bank; WAFB-TV; Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center; Hilton Capitol Center; Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport; IMPAC; Baton Rouge Coca-Cola Bottling Co.; Amedisys; Eagle 98.1; LEMIC Insurance Company; and Franklin Press.
Sponsorship opportunities are available for next year’s tournament. For more information, please contact Jay Lyles at 225.215.1229, or by email at JayLyles@marybird.com.
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About Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center:
Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center has been fighting cancer for over 35 years. It is the only 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 CARE Network:
The mission of the CARE 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 CARE Network. The Center has locations in Baton Rouge, Covington and Hammond.
Photo 1 Caption
Randy Haddad, 2008 Mary Bird Perkins Merrill Lynch Open chair; Ken Gikas, Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry; Hillar Moore, Jr., founding chair; Dawie Van der Walt, winner, Mary Bird Perkins Merrill Lynch Open; Eric Waechter, Merrill Lynch; Mike Anderson, OMNI Bank; Todd Stevens, president/CEO Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center