Celebrity Waiter of the 18th JDC exceeds 2024 record-breaking inaugural success

The 2^nd Annual Celebrity Waiter of the 18^th JDC gathered more than 350 community members and raised $237,695 for CASA of the 18^th JDC.

CASA’s annual signature fundraising event celebrated the work of the organization, which provides court-appointed volunteer advocacy for children in foster care due to abuse or neglect. The event featured guest speakers Retired Judge and Louisiana’s Child Ombudsman Kathleen Richey, Louisiana CASA Executive Director Amanda Moody, Louisiana Senator Caleb Kleinpeter and two CASA advocate volunteer testimonies from Jessica Cicero and Marvin Kador.

Fourteen men and women represented Iberville, Pointe Coupee and West Baton Rouge – the service area of CASA of the 18^th JDC. These “celebrity waiters” helped sell tickets, raised funds, secured auction items and raised awareness for the organization’s mission.

The fundraiser surpassed the inaugural year’s success by $23,000 and far surpassed the $150,000 goal by more than $87,000. The event committee, led by Bridget Easley and co-chaired by Melanie Clouatre, worked tirelessly to ensure another successful event for the local organization. 

“We are deeply grateful for the overwhelming support from our community," stated Kendall Hebert, executive director of CASA of the 18^th JDC. "This year’s tremendous success is a testament to the collective effort and generosity of everyone involved. The funds raised will make a significant impact on the lives of abused and neglected children in the 18th JDC. Not only did we raise significant funds, but we brought awareness to the most vulnerable and at-risk children in our community.”

“CASA of the 18^th JDC will soon celebrate its second year since its inception, and this event solidified the commitment of our three parishes to stand firm for our most vulnerable children,” Hebert added.

The 14 celebrity waiters were:

• Katherine Andre – West Baton Rouge Council & Andre’s Cajun Cracklins*

• Brent Barbier – Iberville Sheriff’s Department & Clubhouse Bistro

• Kim Canezaro – Pointe Coupee Parish School District

• Ashleigh Celedonia – ExxonMobil Baton Rouge – Port Allen Lubricants Plant

• Chris Daigle – Iberville Parish Government*

• Albert Denoux – Velocity Clinical Research

• Carey Denstel – West Baton Rouge Parish

• Grover Harrison – AmeriHealth Caritas Louisiana

• Jimmy Laurent – Pointe Coupee Parish Assessor’s Office*

• Desiree Lemoine – The TJC Group & Industry Makes

• Gina LoBue – Iberville Parish School District

• Ashley McDaniel – Landmark Bank

• Courtney Morgan, MD – Gleaux RX Wellness & Med Spa* (top fundraiser)

• Nedi Morgan – 18^th JDC District Attorney’s Office*

*Denotes top five fundraisers

The celebrity bartenders included:

• Sheriff Jeff Bergeron, West Baton Rouge

• Sheriff Brett Stassi, Iberville

• Sheriff Rene’ Thibodeaux, Pointe Coupee

• Dr. Chandler Smith, West Baton Rouge Parish School Superintendent

• Charlotte Willis, Edward Jones

Sponsors included:

• Presenting Sponsor: Easley Builders

• Platinum Sponsors: ExxonMobil, The TJC Group

• Bar Sponsor: Gleaux RX Wellness & Med Spa

• Gold Sponsors: Doggett Machinery Services, Law Office of Tony Clayton, Louisiana Seafood, Merritt Heating & Air, Reliable Amusement, Verret Shipyard, A. Wilbert’s Sons

• Silver Sponsors: AmeriHealth Caritas Louisiana, Beall & Thies, Black Stallion, Boulanger Services, Coburn’s, CORTEC, Entergy Louisiana, Epic Paving, ETEC, First Student, Fontaine Lumber, JEL Electric, JL’s Plumbing Services, Landmark Bank, Marionneaux Law Firm, Mougeot Architecture, LLC, Pat Pendley Law Firm, Performance Contractors, Placid, Pointe Coupee General Hospital, Turner Industries, Velocity Clinical Research, Westlake

• Bronze Sponsors: Arbor Family Health, Beard Construction Group, LLC, Benedetto’s Market, Blanchard’s Pharmacy, BMS of LA Inc, Dr. Shari Buoy, The Cage, The Cottonport Bank, Don’s Sportsman, Edward Jones, Essential Federal Credit Union, Feigley Communications, Hubben’s, J. Landry Glass, Julie MyU Consulting, LLC, L&B Transport, LOGA, Louisiana Healthcare Connections, Lyons Specialty Co, LLC, M&W Farms, Mike Anderson’s Seafood, Patin Construction Group, PC Electric, PEC, The Poboy House, Precision Polygraph Services, Ponderosa Ranch of PC, RJ Daigle & Sons, Rosco Resources, Smith-LBA Insurance, Edward A. Songy, Synergy Bank, Vantage Industrial Services, Vella Builders

• In-kind Sponsors: Baton Rouge Coca-Cola Bottling Company; Sgt. Dan Cipriano; Community Coffee; Coteau Grove Project; Chloe’s Canvases & More; The Cottonport Bank; Destiny Renee Photography, LLC; DJ Koolaid Photo Booth; Hubben’s Supermarket; KJ Sound Staton; Chief Jason Langlois; Louisiana Seafood; Mockler Beverage; NOEL Family Distillery; Scott & Pamela Rhodes; West Baton Rouge Parish Parks & Rec; Wes Watts

Event committee members: Brandie Blanchard, Kylee Champagne, Melanie Clouatre (co-chair), Bridget Easley, Sarah Girior, Kendall Hebert, Pam Keowen, Julie Mayeux, Chrystal Pourciau and Sheri Young

To become a CASA volunteer, applicants complete an application, background screening, 30-hour pre-service training, and courtroom observation before being sworn in by a judge. The next pre-service training session begins Sept. 29. Now is the time to apply! Learn more at www.casa18jdc.org or call 225.257.9558.