Back after a stellar event in 2024, The Night Out is a taste & mingle event featuring two-time James Beard Scholar, “Chopped” finalist and BTCF board member Chef Gason Nelson of New Orleans.

Chef Gason Nelson is known across the country as one of the very best personal chefs in the business. Chef Gason’s extraordinary culinary skills have taken him around the world to cook for those with the most discriminating tastes including Jairus Byrd, Paul Walker, Reggie Bush, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and others. Chef is two time Masters Tournament Guest Chef , receiving the 2024 Winner for Best Buffet. He is proud to serve on the Board of Directors for Breaking The Chains Foundation.

Joining the Culinary Team again in 2025 is Chef Walter Slawski of The Catering Outfit and Sober Pierre of Pearl Island Foods. New to the team this year is Chef Melissa Close-Hart of Mockingbird!

ABOUT BIG C NEW ME

Created by Board Member Amy Hart and her husband (Advisory Board Member T. Eric Hart), Big C New Me is a program serving cancer survivors and caregivers. We help women, men, and teens deal with the challenges of living with the side effects of cancer and treatment by providing confidence-building resources. We step in when treatment ends and you ask, “What now?”.

How we perceive the way we look on the outside affects how we feel and conduct ourselves. Self-esteem is a fragile gift. We are here to remind survivors and caregivers that they are Beautiful, Powerful and Worthy.

Survivor challenges include:

Burden of physical illness
Appearance-related side effects
Low self-esteem
Depression
Guilt
Fear of recurrence
Diminished quality of life
Stress relating to work, family, financial obligations and more

“Suicide rates are up to 7 times that of the general population.”

(Hu X, Ma J, Jemal A, et al. Suicide Risk Among Individuals Diagnosed With Cancer in the US, 2000-2016.)

“After seemingly successful treatment, the price of surviving cancer for some people is so high, that the risk of attempting suicide, succeeding at it, or having suicidal thoughts remains elevated for decades.”

(Oxford Journal)

WHAT WE DO

The Power Crew is our most popular program: a free one-day experience for cancer survivors and caregivers.

Makeovers and/or facials with professional Make Up Artist
Hair Cut & Style (wigs available at no cost) with professional stylist
Professional Photo Shoot and digital images
Meet other survivors and professionals to grow your support network
Sustaining Sponsorships and in-kind donations make this program possible
Every volunteer has signed up to do the event again, it is so uplifting!

The Night Out 2025- Small Plates + Big Hearts benefitting Big C New Me

featuring two-time James Beard Scholar and “Chopped” finalist Chef Gason Nelson and your favorite local chefs - at Level 10 in Charlottesville, VA