Monday, March 3, 2008
The aroma of chili filled the Civic Arena Sunday during the 22nd annual chili challenge. There were 58 booths competing in two categories, amateur and professional. Doing the cooking at the Scottish Rite Boys are Back booth are, from left, Bill Swope, Ron Sisk and Dale Bryan.
No matter the recipe, it all cooked up success for a local charity.
The 22nd Annual Heart of America Chili Challenge raised a record amount of money for United Cerebral Palsy of Northwest Missouri on Sunday at Civic Arena.
"It's a good thing they only do this once a year, because the heartburn kills me every time," said Kenny Williams. "I always say that I'm going to try them all, but I've never made it all the way through."
Teresa Gagliano, executive director for UCP of Northwest Missouri, said the event brought in $59,000 for UCP programs as of Sunday night. Revenue from online auctions, which had not yet been counted, could push the total to $60,000 or more. The previous fundraising record was nearly $50,000, set in 2007.
The chili challenge is UCP's only fundraising event of the year. The money comes in through corporate sponsoships, entry fees, ticket sales and donations at the 58 competitors' booths.
"It's all of these people who make it nice for us," Ms. Gagliano said. "All of the competitors work hard to decorate their booth, so we don't have to take money out to decorate the arena."
A large, hungry crowd contributed its fair share to UCP's coffers. Dorothy Weese was one of the volunteers who handed out styrofoam cups and plastic spoons to anyone holding a red ticket.
"They were packed all along the walls when we let them in at 2:30. You couldn't see how far back they went," Ms. Weese said.
UCP awarded trophies to the top competitors in several categories. Amateurs, professionals and commercial sponsors competed for the ttle of Missouri State Champion, with amateurs sweeping the top three spots.
Eugene Morin and his team Road Kill Cafe won the title, followed by Bill Swope's Scottish Rite - The Boys Are Back, and Van Hawxby's Team Hawxby. John Garvey of Hi Ho Bar & Grill won the professional division, and Marty Lyle of Realty Executives won the commercial sponsor division.
The most important award, at least for UCP, was the People's Choice Award, which went to the team that raised the most money. The Scottish Rite more than doubled the nearest competition with a winning donation of $10,934.55. In all, Ms. Gagliano said people's choice donations accounted for nearly $20,000 of the event's revenue.
Clinton Thomas can be reached
at clintonthomas@npgco.com.
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