Audrey Raziano volunteers with a dozen parish organizations, keeps brother’s memory alive through fishing tournament
It is hard to believe how many things Audrey Raziano is involved with in St. Charles Parish. For years, the Luling resident has volunteered in the community in a multitude of ways. She volunteers with J.B. Martin Middle School as a mentor, Luling Volunteer Fire Department, the finance committee at St. Mark Catholic Church in Ama, Junior Achievement at R.J. Vial Elementary, St. Charles Economic Council and the St. Charles Fireman’s Association Golf Tournament. She is a recreational softball coach, chairman of Relay for Life, lector at Holy Family Catholic Church and a member of the St. Charles Business Association. And this is in addition to her day job, Senior Vice President at First National Bank USA. On top of all that, she founded the Fishing for Frankie tournament two years ago to benefit her brother, Frankie Champagne Jr.
“I’ve been involved in a lot of different charities but none of them were really dear to me, I didn’t like any one better than the other – I just liked to help people,” she said. “When Frankie Jr. was diagnosed with cancer, that changed.”
Her personal crusade against cancer began when her brother was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2007. Right off the bat, a third of Frankie’s lung was removed to begin treating the cancer. Raziano knew she had to do something.
She organized a blood drive in his honor and ended up collecting over 80 bags of blood and had to turn people away because the blood drive was lasting long into the night.
“It was truly amazing,” she recalled. “For years, I’ve always helped people with their fundraisers. To be on the other end of that and have to ask for help was humbling.
“You don’t realize how many lives you’ve touched until you need help.”
Raziano said that she is continuously reminded of the reason she works so hard. Just this past year during the parish’s Relay for Life event, which she chairs, Raziano said she was approached by a mother who said that her daughter’s name was missing from the “survivors” list. It was missing because her daughter was just informed she was cancer-free that day.
“To know that a child that young now has a life because of what we’re doing makes it all worthwhile,” she said.
Throughout all of her volunteering, Raziano said she always remembers the real reason for her work.
“The focus is not on me – the heroes are the people out here that I do this for,” she said.
Raziano said that anyone can get involved with the community like she does.
“Don’t be shy – sometimes people think it’s a closed group…but if you show up to my event, I’m going to put you to work,” she said. “Nobody putting on a fundraiser is going to turn away help.”
One outgoing young man once gave Raziano what she described as “divine intervention” while she was working to raise money for children with disabilities. The homeless man in his early twenties brought her five crinkled dollars for the fundraiser. He insisted that the few dollars he had left should go to the children, despite her urging him to keep it because he needed it more.
“He told me ‘God gave me two arms, two legs that work and the ability to use them – those children will never have that and it’s my responsibility to give back,’” Raziano said. “It touched me that this kid was giving when he had nothing.”
She took that attitude into her fight to eradicate cancer and help those who are diagnosed, especially her brother.
Since her brother passed away earlier this year, Raziano has decided to keep his legacy alive by continued to advocate for those with cancer and keep the Fishing for Frankie tournament going.
“When he was diagnosed, he was overwhelmed with the people that came out and supported him…I promised him I’d keep it going in his memory,” she said.
This year’s tournament will benefit local man Michael Diaz Jr., who received a double lung transplant earlier this year. Diaz dedicated his life to helping others, serving as a United States Marine, protecting the country in the Army National Guard and keeping local streets safe as both a state trooper and police officer.
Raziano said that fate brought her to Diaz. She was contacted by two different, unconnected people suggesting Diaz as the recipient of this year’s tournament proceeds.
“We just figured it was meant to be Mike,” she said. “This felt like fate – that Frankie sent Mike to us.”
This year’s tournament will take place on Aug. 27 at Pier 90 in Luling beginning at 4:30 a.m. Raziano said that the event is for the whole family, not just fishermen. The Brandon Foret Band will play live from 1-4 p.m. and there will be a live auction and great food.
“You’ll find something for everyone, even if you don’t fish just come watch the weigh in and see what we have locally – why pro bass clubs come here to our area,” Raziano said. “It’s kind of exciting to sit there and wait for the scale to hit that magic number… and you’re also helping someone in need.”
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