Celebrating 20 Years of Throwdown: Honoring the Vision and Generosity of Mike and Valerie Thompson
Emeril Lagasse Foundation Throwdown Weekend has grown into a signature event of food, wine, friendly competition, and philanthropy. Each year, the event brings together supporters, chefs, and vintners who share a commitment to advancing the Foundation’s mission to create opportunities to inspire, mentor and enable youth to reach their full potential.
This year marks a special milestone as Throwdown celebrates its 20th anniversary – a tradition that began thanks to the vision and generosity of longtime supporters Mike and Valerie Thompson.
For the Thompsons, strengthening communities and supporting children has always been a way of life. What began as a shared passion for giving back eventually grew into a lasting partnership with the Foundation, helping shape one of the organization’s most beloved events.
Over the past two decades, the Thompsons have become dedicated champions of this work. From their early days attending Emeril Lagasse Foundation’s Carnivale du Vin, to Mike’s service on the Foundation’s Board of Directors, and Valerie’s role as the visionary behind Throwdown, their impact has been felt across the organization and in the lives of the young people it serves.
Long before connecting with Emeril Lagasse Foundation, Mike and Valerie were already deeply involved in charitable efforts focused on children – supporting organizations that provided healthcare, advocacy, meals, and other essential services for youth.
When they were introduced to Chef Emeril Lagasse and his wife Alden, they quickly discovered a shared commitment to helping young people succeed. The Foundation’s focus on providing youth with culinary, nutrition, and arts education; life skills development; and support to ensure their basic needs are met resonated with the causes the Thompsons already cared deeply about.
The idea for Throwdown began during a visit with friends in California wine country.
“It started with a simple challenge among friends about who could cook the best barbecue,” Mike recalled. “Before long, we decided to turn it into a gathering.”
Mike, a Texas native known for his brisket, was confident he could hold his own. Soon, he and Valerie invited friends to their home in Destin, Florida, for a backyard barbecue cook-off. What began as a casual gathering gradually evolved into a signature fundraising event in Walton County, Florida, including a Beach Bash kickoff, golf tournament, and barbecue competition.
“Over the past two decades, my wife Valerie and I are proud to have helped raise more than $15 million through an event that started in our own backyard. It’s our way of continuing to support the programs that are dear to our hearts and align with the Foundation’s mission to create opportunities for young people to thrive.”
Along the way, the Thompsons have continued finding creative ways to support the Foundation’s work. In 2010, Chef Emeril Lagasse invited Mike to join the Foundation’s Board of Directors, recognizing the experience he and Valerie had gained through their philanthropic work and fundraising initiatives.
For Mike and Valerie, the most meaningful moments have always come back to the young people the Foundation serves. Over the years, they have met students who participated in the Foundation’s programs and later returned to share how those opportunities shaped their futures.
“Seeing those kids come back and say thank you — sometimes even writing a note or sharing where they are now — that’s the most rewarding part,” Mike said. “You realize how much those opportunities meant to them.”
As Emeril Lagasse Foundation celebrates 20 years of Throwdown, it honors the vision and generosity of Mike and Valerie Thompson, whose backyard barbecue challenge helped spark a tradition that continues to make a lasting impact.
