For Immediate Release
January 1, 2025
The 19th Annual Gumbo Cook-Off to Benefit for Ezekiel Whipp
Scheduled for Saturday, January 25, 2025 at the Yambilee Ag Arena in Opelousas, LA
The Gumbo Foundation is announcing The 19
th Annual Gumbo Cook-Off scheduled for Saturday, January 25, 2025,
at the Yambilee Ag Arena in Opelousas, LA. The beneficiary of The 19th Annual Gumbo Cook-Off is one-year-old
Ezekiel Whipp. Ezekiel was diagnosed shortly after birth with the rare disorder Non-ketotic Hyperglycinemia (NKH),
as well as Epilepsy and Spastic Quadriplegic (SQ) Cerebral Palsy not long after. He is the son of Kaylee and Logan
Whipp of Opelousas, Louisiana, and has two sisters, Annalise and Aliza.
Although the highlight of the event is The Gumbo Cook-Off, also featured will be a Motorcycle & Jeep Run, Kids’
Activity Area, Silent and Live Auctions, Food, Drinks, lots of Music & Dancing, and more. Although this is a free event,
the entry fee to participate in the Cook-Off is $50 and there are smaller fees for the bike/jeep run, kids’ activities,
and some of the other activities. For a donation, once samples are turned in for judging, spectators are invited to
taste participants’ entries and vote for their favorite. Prizes will be awarded for First Place, Second Place, Third Place,
and, returning this year, People’s Choice. A specially designed Gumbo Cook-Off Paddle will be presented to the
Grand Champion with the best overall gumbo. Grounds open at 8AM, Kick Off Ceremony is at 10AM, and Auction
begins at 1:30PM, immediately followed by the Winners Ceremony. Music will continue throughout the day, until
6PM.
Please join us in showing Ezekiel and his family all the love and support The Gumbo Foundation supporters and our
community has to offer.
All proceeds benefit Ezekiel and his family to assist with medical and related expenses. Checks can be made payable
to The Gumbo Foundation, P.O. Box 1478, Opelousas, LA 70571. The Gumbo Foundation is an exempt organization
as described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (EIN 81-4140828) and your donation is tax deductible.
Visit the Events section on gumbofoundation.org for more information, like rules, registration, and donations or click
on the Sign-Up button on our Facebook page. Please Visit, Like, Follow, and Share the Facebook page at
https://www.facebook.com/TheGumboCookOff.
For more information, please contact Tim Marks at (337) 658-1108, Jason Huguet at (337) 331-2837, or Crystal
Huguet at (337) 308-1173.
As always,
Much love, many thanks, and God Bless!T
