April 1-3, 2011
Three days of non-stop sports car racing on the challenging
1.8 mile - 14 turn Circuit Grand Bayou in Belle
Featuring Racers from the Gulf Coast Race Series
|
News!!!
On Sunday, May
1, 2011, the co-chairpersons of the
Grand
Bayou Charity Challenge, Mike & Patty Poupart, Johnny & Mary
Pat Walter, and Chris & Lois Wilken, presented a check for $30,000
to St. Mary's Residential School representing the amount raised from
the 5th Grand Bayou Charity Challenge which was held on April 1-3,
2011. The presentation of this check brought the total raised on
behalf of St. Mary's by these "Race Angels" to over $120,000 over the
last 3 years!
$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ Event Report As organizers of the
Grand
Bayou Charity Challenge, we first want to say "Thank You" to everyone
that supported our event this year - racers, sponsors, spectators,
volunteers,
and all those who work so hard behind the scene to make our event
successful year after year. We didn't reach
the fundraising
level we achieved last year, but can't complain. Raising
approximately
$30,000 to support the autism programs at St. Mary's
The weather was fully supportive,
thanks to special input from Sister Carla. Better than a dozen
kids/residents from St. Mary's were bused from the school facility
in We
were so fortunate to
have the Star Spangled Banner performed on Saturday by Chase Howard,
the drum
major for the LSU Tiger Marching Band, with a special rendition he
prepared and
played on the clarinet. On Sunday,
Jackie Baudier, with her newly acquired R.N. degree and license,
returned for
the 4th consecutive year for an acapella performance of the
Star
Spangled Banner. Both performances were
wonderful!
No event is complete without food and we had some great food to brag about! The crawfish boil on Friday was fantastic with big crawfish, all the fixings, jambalaya and dessert. Saturday and Sunday lunches were provided, for a suggested donation, by the St. Mary’s Parent’s Club serving red beans and gumbo by Chef John Folse, another supporter of St. Mary’s. Saturday evening’s bar-b-que was prepared by The Spice Doctors from Another highlight was the
helicopter that landed at the track on Saturday and allowed Patty
Poupart and
Charlie Quinn to go up with him and shoot aerial photography for the
start of
the afternoon GT race. That was a blast! The racing went very well
and the spectators were treated by several good, close races throughout
the
weekend. The trophies were sponsored by
The Spice Doctors who donated bottles of their original flavor sauce
that were given
an additional label for the Grand Bayou Charity Challenge.
An edible trophy! We also had more
children’s activities this year that included balloons, face painting,
and a
bounce house – all free for the kids! The
door prize giveaways and the silent auction bids were
successful and
there are still some t-shirts available for sale – only $15 ea. Again, we cannot thank
everyone enough for all of the effort and support that was put out for
this
event. We could not have done it without
you! Patty & Mike Poupart Mary Pat & Johnny
Walter Lois & Chris Wilken |
If you still want to make a donation, please make all checks
payable to "St. Mary's Residential Training School"
and mail it to: Grand Bayou Charity Challenge,
825 McCruice Street, Mandeville, LA 70448
All donations will be gratefully accepted and acknowledged.
Your donations are tax deductible.
Sneak Peek at
This Year's T-Shirt!
To be sold at event for $15.00!
Click to Read: Click to Read:
Be a Race Angel! World of Autism
ABOUT ST. MARY'S St. Mary’s non-profit residential facility for children and adults (age 3 and up) with developmental disabilities and autism and is a pioneer in working with large numbers of children with autism. All residents are from the State of and are admitted and cared for without regard to race, creed, color, religion, or national origin. |
 is located at 6470 Hwy. 996 in Belle (1 mi. west of Hwy. 70) Only 1 hr. from For directions to the track, go to www.circuitgrandbayou.com |
Still have questions?
Contact Chris Wilken @ 504-616-3064 or chris@buckeyecontractors.com
or Mike Poupart @ 504-472-0400 or bowtieautomotive@bellsouth.net
or John Walter @ 504-812-5223 or libertocleaners@bellsouth.net
View the 2011 Program
(will be uploaded soon)
