| The Texas Proud Redneck Cooking Team is much more than it’s self-deprecating name may imply. The team, made up of Victor Stephens, Mark Cashi, and Johnny Swope, formed about a year ago not only to feed the masses with savory barbecue, but also to help out a worthy cause.
“We’ve all been cookers for years, and the group decided last year to get together,” Stephens, who lives in the Tomball area, said. “But we all decided we wanted to do it for a reason.”
The cooking team donates all of its proceeds to the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center for breast cancer research, an act among teams that Stephens says is “very uncommon.”
Since its inception, the Texas Proud Redneck Cooking Team has participated in about a half dozen cook-offs, and has walked away with a variety of trophies, including a recent Rookies of the Year win.
But while the success of the team is certainly enjoyed by its members, Stephens added, the bigger picture is more important.
“We’ve got enough titles, but we like cooking,” he said. “If we’re going to get out and spend several weekends a year doing this, we want to do it for a reason.”
Stephens said that it was a little too early to tell how much the team’s first donation would amount to since there were still several events the team had signed up to participate in, including the annual Strawberry Festival coming this weekend.
The team is completely non-profit and relies on private donations and sponsorships, which Stephens said is quickly increasing.
“This thing’s really got some legs and is beginning to grow,” he said.
Last week the team was invited to cook at its first private function, held by NAME and NAME who, gave the team a “sizeable” donation, Stephens said.
“We’re just proud to do our part and be associated with other people who give their time for breast cancer research.”
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