13th ANNUAL JAZZ ON THE BAYOU
TO BENEFIT EASTER SEALS LOUISIANA
SCHEDULED FOR 3 PM until 7 PM
APRIL 2nd AND APRIL 3rd, 2005

The 13th annual Jazz on the Bayou fundraiser – benefiting Louisiana Easter Seals – will be held Saturday and Sunday, April 2nd and 3rd, from 3-7 pm. at Chateau Kole on Bayou Liberty near Slidell. Hosts for the event are Ronnie and Gardner Kole who are co-chairs along with Jack and Brenda Stroupe.

Since its creation by the Koles in 1993, Jazz on the Bayou has raised nearly $800,000 to support Easter Seals programs in Louisiana. Tenet Northshore Regional Medical Center is the presenting sponsor of this year’s Jazz, and BellSouth, Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation, Charter Communications, The Slidell-Sentry-News and the Rotary Club of Slidell are Corporate Sponsors.

Easter Seals Louisiana is dedicated to providing rehabilitation and support services for children and adults with disabilities. Easter Seal programs and services include: child care services for families with disabled children: equipment loan programs (wheelchairs, walkers, hospital beds) to disabled individuals; therapy services to Parkinson patients; scoliosis screenings for Louisiana school children in grades 5-8: community, state and federal referral services for disabled people and their families; summer camps for disabled children and young adults; case management and individual specific assistance for those whose needs cannot be met through existing community resources.

Here is a list of the restaurants, chefs and bands and suppliers that are donating their time, food and product.

Chefs Paul Prudhomme, and Paul Miller of K-Paul’s Louisiana Kitchen, Chef Chris Kerageorgiou, of La Provence, Michael’s, Andrea Apuzzo of Andrea’s, Susan Spicer of Bayona’s, Frank and Tommy Wong of Trey Yuen, John Besh of Restaurant August, The Port Hole, Patton’s at the Salmen-Fritchie House, Jay Dunaway of Dunaway's, The Bombay Club, Floyd Bealer of Doug’s, Mama Assunta of Assunta, Jim Vandenburg of LA Pines, Hillery’s on Toulouse, The Pinewood Country Club, Chef Joe Faroldi of Gumbo’s Cajun/Creole School of Cooking, Creative Cookies and Java Jungle.

All the pastries for Saturday will once again be donated by the Royal Sonesta Hotel, and the desert for Sunday’s event will be provided by Michael's Restaurant.

Red and white wines will be provided by Heritage House, as will the  French Sparkling Wines, and Budweiser Beer by Champagne Beverages.

Music will be provided by the Storyville Stompers, the Bobby Ohler Band, and yes, myself…Jazz includes dancing on the tent-enclosed veranda. Hotel stays at the Washington (DC) Hilton Hotel; Marriott’s Grand Hotel and Resort, Point Clear, AL; Sandestin (FL) Hilton Hotel, and a four night stay in a suite at the Hilton New York are among the extensive auction items that also include Celebrity wine dinners, fashion accessories by local designers and one-of-a-kind jewelry. Also being auctioned are sports items and tickets, original art and lunches or dinners at more than 30 local restaurants and hotels—Brennan’s, Broussard’s, Christians, Ritz Carlton, Dickie Brennan’s to name a few.

The live auction will feature the Owners Suite on a Carnival Cruise line ship, and a weeklong cruise on the River Barge Explorer, with Ronnie Kole doing two shows.

Ticket prices are $85 per person.. For reservations and additional information call Jack Stroupe at 985-649-3522.

Visit Home Page: www.jazzonthebayou.com

or e-mail Ronnie Kole at jazzonthebayou@aol.com
or call 504-524-5716