Biggest One Yet

Those involved with this year’s 21st annual Celebrity Waiter Dinner said it had the chance to be the biggest ever.
They were right.
“I can say with conviction that this is the biggest and most successful one,” said Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office Col. Kirk Frith, a Celebrity Waiter board member, who helped organize this year’s dinner.
The event, held Wednesday at the V.N. Hall in Abbeville, is likely to net close to $83,000, according to Boys & Girls Club of Acadiana Chief Operating Officer Brian Ford. That number represents around a 10-percent increase over last year.
Those funds will go to help the Boys & Girls Club Rodney Unit in Abbeville. This event fulfills about 50 percent of the local club’s overall operating budget.
“We knew going into this year that there was a growing interest from the community to want to attend the event,” Ford said. “The committee worked extremely hard this year in growing the event and are pleased with the outcome.”
There are many who helped make the outcome possible.
“I want to thank everyone who came out and supported the 2014 Celebrity Waiter Dinner,” Ford said. “Jaryd Lane kicked off the Cocktail Social with music which was followed by a Steak Dinner served by Local Celebrity Waiters.”
Waiters this year included current political leaders, including mayors Mark Piazza (Abbeville), Wayne Theriot (Maurice), David Dupuis (Gueydan) John Earl LeBlanc (Erath), Vermilion Parish School Superintendent Jerome Puyau, Vermilion Parish Tax Assessor Gabe Marceaux, the Abbeville Kiwanis Club, the Kaplan High Key Club, and University of Louisiana at Lafayette baseball and basketball players, among others.
Ford offered a special thanks to the Gold Sponsors, including Coastal Chemical, Fire Safety Specialists, Gulf Coast Bank, Ray Chevrolet, Courtesy Vermilion, and Vermilion Parish Sheriff Mike Couvillon for their support.
District Attorney Mike Harson served as this years’ Presenting Sponsor.
“This is the first time we offered a Presenting Sponsor,” Frith said. “That sells for $15,000. That is going to be a test for us next year. Can we continue to sell that Presenting Sponsor? That is not an easy sell.”
Frith also thanked his fellow board members, including Woody Woodruff, Murphy Guilbeaux, Mike Hardy, Dickie Durr and Wade Trahan, for countless hours of preparation.
“We worked some long hours on this one,” Frith said.
Hours that proved well worth the time because of what the fundraiser supports.
“This Boys & Girls Club is providing a place for our children to go,” Frith said. “The kids learn so much from being in that atmosphere. It’s a very diverse program to reach out to kids.
“For me, being in law enforcement, the biggest plus is that it’s a place for kids to go instead of being on the streets.”
Ford agreed that what the Celebrity Waiter funds is what helps make it such a successful event.
“I believe that the community understands the importance of investing in the youth of their community,” Ford said. “District Attorney Mike Harson and the (Vermilion Parish) Sheriff Mike Couvillon understand the importance in helping youth through early intervention and supporting programs such as the Boys & Girls Club that focus on helping kids achieve academic success, maintain a healthy lifestyle throughout their life, and maintain good character and citizenship in their community.”
The biggest Celebrity Waiter ever is now in the books. The next move, make next year’s even bigger.
“When you reach a goal,” Frith said, “you set the bar higher.”
That is already underway.
“The goal is to continue to grow the event,” Ford said. “We have received an amazing amount of positive feedback from the event this year and have already had a couple of new business contact us stating that they want to get a table next year to the event for the first time.”