Photo Courtesy of Leah Storr
By Emily McLaughlin
TAMPA, Fla. — What started as a backyard barbecue among friends has grown into a 15-year Tampa tradition, bringing together music fans, barbecue competitors, and volunteers to raise money for people who live with rare kidney diseases.
The Tampa Pig Jig returned to Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park on Saturday, Oct. 17, featuring performances by Thomas Rhett, Midland, Kameron Marlowe, Sister Hazel, and Cassidy Daniels, alongside a corporate barbecue competition.
Even though the event featured amazing food and music, it represented more than a day of live music and competition. Since its founding in 2011, Tampa Pig Jig has raised millions of dollars for NephCure, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing research treatments for rare kidney diseases, including focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and nephrotic syndrome.
The event was created after Will Wellman, a friend of the founders, was diagnosed with FSGS. According to the HopeWill Foundation, the group organized a backyard barbecue competition to raise money towards research for Wellman.
Seth Cohen, general counsel for the Baldwin Group and captain of one the competing barbecue teams, said in an interview that his boss, Trevor Baldwin, was among the event’s founders. Cohen said Baldwin asked him to be captain five years ago since Baldwin saw the love and passion Cohen had for cooking.
“I don’t dance, sing, or play a musical instrument,” said Cohen. “My art’s in the kitchen.”
Cohen said the competition has grown from roughly a dozen teams to more than 100 over the years. The Baldwin Group won the grand championship last year, giving Cohen another reason to look forward to the annual gathering.
“This is better than my birthday,” said Cohen. “This is my absolute favorite day of the year.”
The competition brings together colleagues, clients, friends, and family members, with teams preparing multiple barbecue dishes for judges. While the food is a major part of the Pig Jig event, the cause is what gives the gathering a much larger purpose.
Cohen said the money raised through Pig Jig has helped Wellman receive medical treatment and benefit from advances in research.
“And I believe we can find a cure for this,” said Cohen. “It requires things like this to raise the money. How do you not feel great about that, right?”
A big part of the event’s growth is among its volunteers. Natasha Perry, who has volunteered for eight to 10 years, said the festival has expanded considerably during her time there, including moving across the river as attendance grew.
“Every year it gets bigger,” said Perry.
Perry said the growth extends beyond the number of people attending the festival. Barbecue teams, vendors, and other participants also contribute to the event, with many arriving the night before to prepare.
Perry said she continues volunteering partly because the event is well organized and offers a straightforward way to contribute to a local cause.
Isaac Boonen-Homig, a medical student at the University of South Florida, said the event offered an opportunity to connect his interest in medicine with volunteer work. He said he first heard about Pig Jig through students interested in nephrology and was drawn to the fundraising mission.
Boonen-Homig said he has volunteered for three years, helping with general setup in previous years and working in the judges’ tent this year. His responsibilities have included assisting judges and learning more about the barbecue competition.
He said the atmosphere is friendly, with volunteers, staff, and attendees coming together to enjoy the event.
The festival’s growth has allowed the HopeWill Foundation to expand its philanthropic efforts while continuing its partnership with NephCure. In addition to supporting rare kidney disease research, the foundation now supports local organizations that serve families facing serious medical challenges.
“Look around. This is Tampa. This is the best of Tampa,” said Cohen.
What started as a small fundraiser for a friend has become an annual gathering that brings the community together around a shared goal. That shared goal is to help families affected by rare kidney diseases and advance the research that could change their futures.