Merchants and Marine employees Morgan Holloway, Noel Grafe, S.T. Phillips and Gary Cumbest, and Hancock Bank employee Mark Silver were up all night grilling for the Praise Fest and BBQ Throwdown. PASCAGOULA -- Bank employees who fancy themselves grill chefs were up all night basting and turning three different kinds of meat for a first-time musical and cookoff fundraiser on Saturday in the courtyard of a downtown bank.
Noel Grafe and fellow employees at Merchants and Marine Bank joined workers from four other banks to provide Boston butt, pork ribs, sausage, chicken and hamburgers for the Pascagoula Praise Fest and BBQ Throwdown.
Food, Fun and Fellowship at Praise Fest and BBQ Throwdown
The Mississippi Press/June 26, 2011
Todd Trenchard, executive director of the Bacot/McCarty Foundation, said some 700 to 800 people attended the fundraiser.
Residents paid $8 for dinner plates and contributed other monies if desired to help fund the work of Home of Grace, a substance abuse recovery program with facilities in Vancleave for men and Gautier for women.
The event was sponsored by M&M and Bacot-McCarty.
Noel Grafe and fellow employees at Merchants and Marine Bank joined workers from four other banks to provide Boston butt, pork ribs, sausage, chicken and hamburgers for the Pascagoula Praise Fest and BBQ Throwdown.
Food, Fun and Fellowship at Praise Fest and BBQ Throwdown
The Mississippi Press/June 26, 2011
Todd Trenchard, executive director of the Bacot/McCarty Foundation, said some 700 to 800 people attended the fundraiser.
Residents paid $8 for dinner plates and contributed other monies if desired to help fund the work of Home of Grace, a substance abuse recovery program with facilities in Vancleave for men and Gautier for women.
The event was sponsored by M&M and Bacot-McCarty.
Morgan Holloway, collections depart at M&M Bank, and S.T. Phillips, branch manager in Moss Point, enjoy a laugh about the night vigil preparing pork, beef and chicken for the estimated 700 folks who attended the barbecue fundraiser that helped the Home of Grace.
The bankers and their barbecue were co-stars of the festival that featured some 20 local gospel artists including soloists, singing groups, churches and ministry leaders.
"We certainly enjoy cooking and enjoy raising money for
S.T. Phillips shows off the ribs and Boston butt fired up on grills stationed at the drive-thru at Merchants and Marine Bank in Downtown Pascagoula. The Praise Fest and Barbecue Throwdown was held in the bank's courtyard.
the Home of Grace," said Grafe, a credit analyst.
He hopes the community can continue to reach out and help people who have substance abuse problems.
He hopes the community can continue to reach out and help people who have substance abuse problems.
Noel Grafe, credit analyst with M&M, Phillips and the other bankers also cooked hotdogs, hamburgers and chicken.
Grafe, Morgan Holloway, S.T. Phillips, branch manager in Moss Point, and Gary Cumbest, a credit card specialist, made up the cooking team for M&M Bank. Mark Silver, technology department, and other team members competed for Hancock Bank. The Home of Grace also provided a team, as did several other banks.
Home of Grace representatives also added their hands to the barbecue throwdown.
The men started early to earn bragging rights for the best tasting meats. Though a competition, there were no prizes given.
"We've been out here all night," said Holloway. "We put ours on a little after 10 or 11 p.m."
"We started cooking about 10 p.m.," said Grafe.
Noel Grafe and other bank employees relax from their cooking duties while preparing for the first-ever Praise Fest and BBQ Throwdown. 
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