09/01/2026
A Taste of N’Awlins — What a Day!
Apparently, Mother Nature decided A Taste of N’Awlins needed a little extra Louisiana weather!
Despite the torrential downpour on Sunday, August 23, more than 150 people showed up, umbrellas in hand and ready to eat, laugh, bid, buy raffle tickets, and support Faces of Courage.
We cannot begin to thank Dr./Chef Elliot Cazes and his hardworking wife, Pam Cazes, enough for co-chairing this fundraiser.
When Elliot and Pam agreed to take this on, they REALLY took it on!
They corralled just about everyone they knew—and probably a few people they didn't—to help make this event happen. They collected more than 80 donated gift cards, secured an amazing assortment of silent auction and raffle items, recruited volunteers, and then rolled up their sleeves and worked right alongside everyone else.
And what a team they put together!
People chopped, grilled, cooked, carried, decorated, set up, cleaned up, served food, sold water, sold raffle tickets, worked registration, managed auction items and did whatever else needed to be done.
This wasn't just a fundraiser. It was a community coming together for one very important reason:
To help raise the final $10,000 needed to fund our Women's Cancer Camp, September 18–20.
Our heartfelt thanks to our wonderful volunteers:
Anjali Gandhi • Betsy Ilfeld • Candi Beuer • Chris Sherry • Dannielle Roberts • Dr. Jerry Wishik • Emily & Jon Jackson • Heather Piasecki • Joanne Mayers • Mike Knowles • Patti Conover • Prasanth Nemani • Priya Patel • Quanjai Piasecki • Roseann Conversa • Sharon Diamond • Sharon Ravner
And an enormous THANK YOU to the businesses and individuals who donated gift cards, products, services, experiences, auction items, food and so much more:
NATERA • 10S4LIFE • 3 Natives Acai & Juicery • A Special Rose Florist • Acropolis Greek Tavern • Audi Car Dealership • Baytak • BJ's Wholesale Club • Box of Cubans – New Tampa • Bruster's of New Tampa • Byron Bennett • Cali, Tampa Palms • Caribbean Mystique Spa • Carrabba's Restaurant • Chick-fil-A • Chili's Restaurant • Club Pilates • CND Nails & Spa • Coffee Latitudes Farm to Cup • Connie Gage • Crunch Fitness – Tampa Palms • Dannielle Roberts • Debra & Jim Huseby • Dr. Daniel & Janet Heinig • Eat Fresh Kitchen • Ed & Linda Mortellero • Eggtown, New Tampa • Eggtown, Wesley Chapel • Estée Lauder/Dillard's, Citrus Park • First Watch • Fleet Feet, Tampa • Frame by Frame • Glory Days Grill and Sports House • Grain & Berry • Grillsmith Wesley Chapel • Gwen & Jim Mixon • Hazel Vanderford • Headdress Salon • Image One Corporation • Inara Zarak • Iria's Alterations • Jay's Kitchen • Jenn Walks Dogs • Kimberly Freeman • Kobe Japanese Steakhouse • Kuts • Leiva's Jewelry • Liang's Bistro • Little Greek Fresh Grill • Marlene Bentzen • Mary & David Persky • Mary Ware • Mathew Steward • Mike Cooney • Mission BBQ • Mr. Dunderbak's Brewpub, Market & Deli • Ms. Emma's Swim & Survival Academy • Nancy Tischler • Neighborhood News, New Tampa • New Tampa OB/GYN • Nothing Bundt Cakes • Olive Garden • Pam's Private Tutoring • Patti Conover • Peabody's Restaurant Bar & Billiards • Piccola Italia Restaurant • Pink Palm Boutique • Potbelly Sandwich Shop • PRP • Pure Barre New Tampa • Rodney Clark's Service Specialties • Sean Lacy • Sole' Nail Lounge • Sprouts Farmers Market • Steak 'n Shake • Stonewood Grill & Tavern • Studio J Hair Salon • Taco Bell • Taste of New York Pizza • Thai Ruby Restaurant • The Fat Rabbit • The Grill at Morris Bridge • Toffee to Go • Touch Nail Salon • Transcend Hair Studio • Tropical Smoothie Café • Twistee Treat • Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming • YogaSix • You Do the Dishes • Zio's New York Bagel & Deli Company
And finally, thank you to every single person who walked through those doors Sunday. You could have looked at that rain and stayed home. Instead, you showed up. You ate. You bid. You bought raffle tickets. You volunteered. You donated. You laughed. And most importantly, you helped make sure women facing cancer can come to camp completely FREE of charge.
That's what community looks like.
Rain couldn't stop this crowd—and cancer won't stop us either.
From all of us at Faces of Courage, THANK YOU!
