Fight SMA Chapters: FightSMA of Tampa Bay
Duncan and Laurie Elliott
719 Orleans Avenue
Tampa, Florida 33606
Tel: (813) 251-1611
E-mail: Click here to email FightSMA of Tampa Bay
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Upcoming Events:
The Hannah's Buddies Charity Classic
Celebrating 11 Years
February 19 - 20, 2010
Orlando, Florida
click here.
The Golf Tournament
The Hannah's Buddies Charity Classic is a four-person scramble played in Orlando on Friday, February 19th. A morning shotgun start sends more than 250 golfers onto the Nicklaus-designed courses to battle for great prizes and awards. The golfers range from scratch to high handicappers with a few first-time players sprinkled in for the fun. The competition is friendly and fierce at the same time-a low score of 56 in 2008 took top honors by one stroke. Following the tournament, a cocktail and award ceremony is hosted by John Bell of Widespread Panic and entertainment is provided by a regional music act.
Dinner and Silent Auction at the House of Blues
Participation in the golf tournament includes admission for each golfer and a guest to the dinner and silent auction at the Orlando House of Blues on Saturday, February 20th. The dinner consists of buffet of the infamous House of Blues Cajun-influenced cuisine. The silent auction consists of sports and music memorabilia displayed throughout the HOB music hall.
John Bell and Friends Benefit Bash at House of Blues
with Special Guests Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks, and Nickel & The Bye Polar Bears
The weekend climax occurs on Saturday night (February 20th) when the House of Blues doors open to the public for the John Bell and Friends Benefit Bash. John Bell invites his friends to join in a night of music always filled with surprises and great performances.
Past Events:
10th Annual Hannah's Buddies Charity Classic and John Bell and Friends Benefit Bash
Hannah's Buddies Charity Golf Tournament
February 27, 2009
Grand Cypress Golf Resort
John Bell and Friends Benefit Bash
February 28, 2009
House of Blues
The first Hannah's Buddies Charity Classic was held in Orlando in 1999. Seventy-five golfers gathered with John Bell of Widespread for a round of golf, dinner, silent auction and sold-out concert at the House of Blues. The golf tournament grown to occupy two golf courses with more than 250 golfers from around the country and the concert has continued to draw massive crowds and a variety of performers. It all started with Bell wanting to do something to help his goddaughter, Hannah, and children like her afflicted with the neuromuscular disease Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). In its first nine years, more than $1.5 million dollars has been raised for SMA research through this event. Year ten promises to bring even more needed funds for this fight against the number one genetic cause of death in children under two.
Thank you to John Bell and Widespread Panic for their generosity and the years of support in the fight to defeat spinal muscular atrophy!
9th Annual Hannah's Buddies Charity Classic and John Bell and Friends Benefit Bash
February 8-9, 2008
Grand Cypress Resort and House of Blues
The 2008 Hannah's Buddies Charity Classic will be held on February 8th and 9th at the Grand Cypress Golf Resort in Orlando, Florida. The tournament will begin on the 8th with a shotgun start at 12:30 p.m and will conclude with an awards reception at the clubhouse scoreboard.
On February 9th, the golfers gather again at the House of Blues for the dinner and silent auction at 4:30 p.m. which will be followed by the John Bell and Friends Benefit Bash at 8:00 p.m. The line-up this year will be announced soon and it will be another great evening of music hosted by JB.
SMAsquerade 2007
FightSMA Tampa Bay is reintroducing the SMAsquerade on Saturday, October 20, 2007 from 8:00 PM until midnight. It will again be a costume ball with live music provided by Bobby Lee Rodgers and the Codetalkers. This fun event will be held at The Lafayette Room (venue located next to Mise en Place in South Tampa), 442 W. Kennedy Blvd in Tampa.
Click here to view the invitation
Click here to print a copy of the reply card
For more information email FightSMA of Tampa Bay or call (813) 251-1611.
8th Annual Hannah's Buddies Charity Classic and John Bell and Friends Benefit Bash
January 20, 2007
Grand Cypress Resort and House of Blues
The 8th Annual Hannah's Buddies Charity Classic was another huge success! More than 230 golfers hit the Grand Cypress courses bright and early Saturday morning to the nicest weather in the event's history. Scores were low and spirits were high. Then it was off to the House of Blues for the auction and dinner - lots of cool stuff and lots of money raised for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Research. The crowd rolled in for the evening of music with Michael Nichol, JB and Sam Holt, Outformation and Col. Bruce Hampton and the Aquarium Rescue Unit. It was a great day...it was a great night. Thanks to everyone who participated onsite and from afar. And, congrats to this year's winning team of David Veghte, Richard Veghte, John Veghte, and Larry Hill!
Jelly Bean Fling
The 7th Annual (yes, seventh!) Hannah's Buddies Charity Classic
and John Bell and Friends Benefit Bash
The date is February 25, 2006 in Orlando. The fun-filled day begins at Grand Cypress Resort for the golf tournament and then off to dinner and a silent auction at the House of Blues for the golfers and their guests. The doors to the House of Blues open to the public at 8:00 p.m. for the Benefit Bash host by John Bell of Widespread Panic. This year's musical guests include John Bell, Col. Bruce Hampton and Jojo Hermann and his Mardi Gras Band.
The 2005 Charity Classic was in Orlando on January 22. It was held at the Grand Cypress Resort. The day included the dinner and silent auction at House of Blues for the golfers and their guests then another great night of music with some special guests.
Thank you for joining us in our efforts to fund needed research to make life better for Hannah and the tens of thousands of kids fighting Spinal Muscular Atrophy!
The Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am Charity Foundation Inc. is a 501 (C)(3) not-for-profit organization founded in October of 2003. The 2005 Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am is an official Champions Tour event and was held on February 21-27, 2005 at the Tournament Players Club of Tampa Bay. FightSMA/Hannah's Buddies was one of four charities chosen as a beneficiary of the tournament proceeds. Following the 2004 tournament, this professional golf tournament generated more than $5 million in donations for area charities in Florida. Outback Steakhouse continues to demonstrate their generosity in 2005 as shown in the pictures below. Please visit www.outbackproam.com for more information about the tournament.
Press:
St. Petersburg Times: A Fighting Chance (April 25, 2006)
Atlanta Peach Magazine: Widespread Stardom (Summer 2007)
Paste Magazine: John Bell - Travelin' Light (June 21, 2007)
St. Petersburg Times: Parents issue urgent plea to politicos (October 19, 2007)
The Elliott Family
Hannah Elliott with John Bell,lead singer of Widespread Panic. |
 Joie Smith and Hannah Elliott  Joie and Hannah with GiGi Elliott |
The Smith Family
 The Smith Family  Joie Smith with Desiree from FightSMA Southwest |
 Joie Smith |