2017 Celebrity Waiter

Local celebrities raised more than $12,000 for cancer research during the 6th annual Relay For Life of Polk County Celebrity Waiter Event held on September 16th. Lou and Denni of Mena Mountain Resort prepared a delicious meal, and 18 local celebrities waited tables for tips. The room looked beautiful as each celebrity decorated their table. The tables had themes such as Masquerade, Rosie the Riveter, 1950’s Rock and Roll, Razorbacks, Crime Scene, The Flintstones, and The Presidents featuring Donald and Melania Trump. Many of the waiter’s guests dressed according to the theme.

The local celebrity waiters who participated in the event were; John and Christy Titsworth sponsored by Arkansas Country Properties, Regina and Richard Lawry sponsored by USEM Federal Credit Union, Jim and Joyce Stroope, sponsored by Nidec, Teresa Bates, Cassondra Gortemiller, Shelly Harvey and Rebecca Whitaker sponsored by Union Bank and Smith Pallet, Brandon Martin sponsored by the Mena Police Department, Scott Sawyer sponsored by  the Polk County Sheriff’s Department, John Maddox sponsored by Maddox and Maddox, Yuri Aguilar sponsored by Tres Agaves, Heather Lackey and Tabitha Viera sponsored by Relay For Life of Polk County and Genesis Cancer Center, and Bonita and Maegan Kent.

After the meal, donated items were auctioned off by auctioneer Jimmy Martin. There was spirited bidding on the many items that had been donated to the event. Leslie Humphrey, representing the American Cancer Society, along with volunteers from outside of Polk County judged the event. The Celebrities who received the most tips were Jim and Joyce Stroope. Second place went to Regina and Richard Lawry. The award for the Best Theme was given to Bonita and Maegan Kent for The Flintstones. Second went to John Maddox for the Razorbacks. The award for Best Dressed Waiter went to Brandon Martin and his table’s Crime Scene theme. Second place was given to Teresa Bates, Cassondra Gortemiller, Shelly Harvey and Rebecca Whitaker, Heather Lackey and Tabitha Viera for the 50’s Theme. The Sneakiest Waiter award went to Jim Stroope who seemed to be at every table in the room at once. Second went to Renee Hendrix and her baby Amelia.The Most Spirited Waiter award was presented to John and Christy Titsworth for their entertaining portrayal of Donald and Melania Trump. The runners-up were Cassondra Gortemiller and Teresa Bates. The 2017 Celebrity Waiters of the Year were Regina and Richard Lawry.

Leslie Humphrey of the American Cancer Society, said, “Congratulations Mena on a wonderful and fun Celebrity Waiter. I'm so glad I was able to be a part of such an awesome event. Thank you to everyone who helped make this event so successful.” Auctioneer Jimmy Martin added, “I want to thank the Relay for Life of Polk County Arkansas for letting us do their Benefit Auction. We had a wonderful time and got to meet some wonderful people.”

All of the funds raised at the event will be donated to Relay For Life of Polk County to support the American Cancer Society. ACS saves lives by helping people stay well by preventing cancer or detecting it early; helping people get well by being there for them during and after a cancer diagnosis; by finding cures through investment in groundbreaking research; and by fighting back by rallying communities worldwide to join the fight. The American Cancer Society is the nation’s largest non-governmental investor in cancer research. As a result, over 11 million people in America who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will be celebrating birthdays this year.