LULING — With 103 teams cooking jambalaya or gumbo, United Way of St. Charles kicked off its fundraising campaign with the 10th annual Battle for the Paddle cook-off on Thursday, Oct. 6, at the West Bank Bridge Park in Luling.

The Battle for the Paddle is held to mark the beginning of United Way of St. Charles annual campaign to raise funds that support local programs and agencies serving St. Charles Parish.

“We really enjoy this event because it brings the community together and creates a lot of excitement going into our annual fundraising campaign. Our goal this year is zero — meaning we want to raise enough money to that no one goes without the services needed in our community,” stated John Dias, UWSC executive director.

Cooking began at 11 a.m. and the public was invited to join from 4-7:30 p.m. A record-breaking 2,785 attendees came out for unlimited sampling of the area’s best gumbo and jambalaya and live entertainment. The Battle for the Paddle event raised $25,000 for United Way of St. Charles.

The 2011 winners of the Battle for the Paddle included:

Jambalaya

• First place – The Aldehyde Strippers, Dow St. Charles Operations

• Second place – OxyChem Jambalaya, OxyChem

• Third place – Rabadeaux, Allen Thibodaux

Gumbo

• First place – Gumboholics, Valero St. Charles Operations

• Second place – Luling Volunteer Fire Department

• Third place – Gumbo Smiths, Valero St. Charles Operations

People’s Choice Awards Gumbo

• First place – The Paddle Jockeys, Monsanto

• Second place – St. Charles Parish Public Schools

• Third place – Convent Church

People Choice Awards Jambalaya

• First place – Crew and Associates, Marcus Lambert

• Second place –Rabadeaux

• Third place – St. Charles Parish Public Schools

United Way of St. Charles also recognized its “Pacesetter” companies that held their United Way fundraising efforts before the official kickoff to help generate momentum for the campaign. The Pacesetter companies include Dow St. Charles Operations, Monsanto, Valero St. Charles Refinery, OxyChem, Norco Manufacturing Complex and Momentive Specialty Chemicals.

For more information about United Way of St. Charles and how you can get involved, visit www.uwaysc.org or call 985-331-9063.