The TCMH Healthcare Foundation raised a record-setting $70,161 at its sixth-annual Chili Cook Off held Nov. 3 in Houston.
The 2012 total surpassed the $68,742 from the previous year. About 300 people attended the event inside the community building at the Houston Area Chamber of Commerce Fairgrounds.
The Healthcare Foundation sponsors the annual event to benefit the TCMH Hospice of Care. Eighteen chili-cooking teams — outfitted with a team theme that ranged from diamonds to dogs to camouflage –– served their best meat and bean, red or white, hot or mild chili recipes.
Donations came in the form of sponsorships by area businesses for chili teams, corporate and entertainment sponsorships, cash donations and donations of items for the auctions. Chili teams also raised money prior to the event and at the event. In addition to musical entertainment, a live auction, many silent auctions and a cakewalk also provided entertainment.
Jay Gentry, director of the Healthcare Foundation, organized the Chili Cook Off.
“Once again we received tremendous support from area businesses and individuals in donating to this important community cause,” he said.
A festive atmosphere filled the fairgrounds as attendees poured in to taste chili.
“Landmark Bank Hula Hut” gave away leis with their chili in their tiki-themed booth. The clowns and master of ceremonies at the “Flaming Banker Circus” from Community Bank, NA gave away red noses and chili.
Fritos, cheese, onions, sour cream and milk were served up as accompaniments to the chili. A few competitors served up “mild” and “hot” pots of chili.
“The Chili Cook Off is truly an event the whole family can enjoy,” said Courtney Owens, nurse manager of TCMH Hospice of Care.
Hello Kitty and Spongebob Squarepants made appearances to pose with the cook off teams and play with the kids. The younger set enjoyed sweet treats, balloons and soda in glass bottles being sold or given away at cook off booths. A giant blow up slide was also available for the kids to play on.
Dozens of homemade cakes were given away at the Hospice of Care pie and cake booth, which featured a cakewalk for a dollar. The cakewalks were enjoyed by young and old alike. he Hospice of Care staff also held silent auctions for homemade pies and other treats.
Adults were drawn to silent auctions featuring baskets of seasonal decorations, pet supplies and beauty products; artwork by local artists and tickets and gift certificates to various places in the area. Teams held raffles or silent auctions for handmade items, gift baskets and St. Louis Cardinals and Mizzou gear.
A chili dog eating contest featured chili cook off team members, local business owners and a few kids. Dylan Cron of Branson from The Gentry Boys cook off team won the contest.
Chili booths were decorated in many different ways. Raymondville United Methodist Church had a “Heavenly Chili” themed booth. “No Chili Left Behind” was Houston School’s theme with racing pit crew members serving chili. The “OR Chili Builders” from the TCMH surgery department donned safety vests and hard hats, serving chili around tools, a big ladder and cones. Big Country 99’s “Brewhahahahaha” featured a news anchor desk with a large sports backdrop that was built by the team.
The Healthcare Foundation held two raffles as a way to raise money prior to and during the event. Stacey Ozias of West Plains won the rifle. Bob Roach of Eunice won the Jon boat.
The TCMH EMS Afterburners team held a raffle for a Can-Am UTV. Judy Murray of Houston was the winner.
Three chili judges representing sponsors and supporters of the event were Earleen Holder from Progressive Ozark Bank in Houston, Jay Loveland from Wehr Motors of Mountain Grove, and Dr. Jon Beers of the TCMH Medical Complex in Houston. Prizes were given to the chili teams who were competing in several different categories.
“Judge’s choice” and first place went to “Chili Chili Bang Bang,” sponsored by State Farm Insurance in Houston. The cook off judges awarded second place to “The Gentry Boys” from Gentry Residential Treatment Center for their mild chili. The third place “judge’s choice” went to “Landmark Hula Hut” sponsored Landmark Bank of Houston.
“Chili with the Most Kick” prize also went to “The Gentry Boys,” which entered a ‘hot’ and ‘mild’ chili in the contest.
First place in the “best booth” decorating category went to Community Bank N.A. for “The Flaming Banker Circus” ¬¬–– a booth and costumes with an “under the big top” theme. Houston School administrators, dressed as members of a racing crew pit, won second place with their “No Chili Left Behind” booth. The “Landmark Bank Hula Hut” won third place for their island themed booth complete with palm trees and parrots.
Everyone in attendance was given a ballot to vote for the “people’s choice” in chili. The “Flaming Banker Circus” won first place in the people’s choice category followed by “No Chili Left Behind” in second place and “Heavenly Chili” from Raymondville United Methodist Church in third place.
TCMH employees in attendance were given the opportunity to vote for the “TCMH Choice. The TCMH EMS “Afterburners” won the hospital employee award for the fourth year in a row.
The Chili Cook Off Teams contributed $39,520to the funds raised for Hospice of Care. Chili-cooking teams raised money for their teams prior to and during the cook off. Seven teams raised more than $1,000 apiece.
TCMH EMS “Afterburners” won first in “team fundraising” with $21,823. Second place went to “The Flaming Banker Circus” for raising $3,371. Third place went to “Great Bowls of Fire” by the Rolla Technical Center radiology tech students with $3,123.
Prior to the live auction portion of the event, Dr. Charlie Rasmussen, the Hospice of Care medical staff director, spoke about the local hospice service.
“We are humbled by the turn out for this great cause,” Rasmussen said.
Rasmussen said Hospice of Care is doing great work in the community. He recounted the story of helping a family that had never had family photos, get photos made with their loved one before they passed away in Hospice service.
“We work as hard as we can to make sure that the patient and their family lives comfortably until the end,” Rasmussen said.
Rasmussen also explained that donations to Hospice of Care have been used to provide specialized training for hospice staff. Some of the funds in 2012 will be used to provide special furniture for the hospice rooms in the TCMH expansion and renovation project.
“Your donations really make a difference, and we greatly appreciate the hard work done to put this event,” Rasmussen said.
Families that were in Hospice of Care service in 2012 and previous years were present at the event. Some families also made donations to the Healthcare Foundation to benefit Hospice of Care at the Chili Cook Off.
Marian McKinney of McKinney Forge and Design Studio in Bucyrus donated a necklace in memory of her late husband, Charlie McKinney. Harold Mitchell made a walnut and cherry blanket chest and donated it in memory of his mother, Caroline Mitchell, a patient of Hospice of Care. Dorothy Perkins, Shelia Miller and Theresa Baker pieced and quilted a quilt in honor of Ruby Foster.
“We could not do what we do without the community support and partnerships that we have,” Gentry said.
Elk Creek Baptist Church is known for providing volunteer help to Hospice of Care year round, and their congregation members also make baked goods for the Chili Cook Off. In addition to their usual efforts, Elk Creek Baptist made a $1,000 donation to Hospice of Care during a presentation at the Chili Cook Off.
Owens also introduced her staff to those present, and she thanked attendees for their support of Hospice of Care.
“The Hospice staff and I are incredibly impressed and thankful for the community support that has been shown to us,” Owens said.
Owens commended the teams that put in a long day making and serving chili as well as the time they put in creating teams with themes, decorating booths and raising money prior to and at the event.
After Saturday’s event, the cook off raised $59,669 in cash donations and $10,492 in in-kind donations. All the proceeds raised by the Chili Cook Off support Hospice of Care and remain in Texas County to benefit area residents.
The Healthcare Foundation has a special “Hospice Fund” where the Cook Off funds and other donations to Hospice of Care are held.
Plans are already underway to hold the seventh annual version of the event on Saturday, Nov. 2. More details about the event will be available from the TCMH Healthcare Foundation.