More than $50,000 was raised Nov. 3 at the 12th annual Chili Cook Off to benefit Texas County Memorial Hospital Healthcare Foundation.
The event included live music by the band Chrome 45, a chili dog eating contest, live and silent auction items and lots of chili. The funds – totaling $53,869 – assist in providing end of life and grief support care for patients and their families in Texas County and the surrounding area.
Sixteen teams of five persons each participated in the event. Teams chose a theme and team name and began their fundraising efforts earlier in the year.
The top fundraising team was Team Jayson Jurassic Chili, sponsored by Peoples Community Bank, who raised $5,994. Happy Feet Chili collected $3,140 and #elfies of Houston Walmart Supercenter raised $2,997.
Dr. Rodney Knuckles stands in victory at the end of the chili dog eating contest in 2018
Ticket sales, live and silent auctions and team fundraising efforts are some of the main methods used to reach the fundraising goal. Team fundraising efforts alone raised $22,902 prior to and during the event.
“This event would not be possible without the incredible effort of the chili cook off teams,” said Jay Gentry, TCMH Healthcare Foundation director.
Team Jayson has participated four years in the cook off. The team has raised more than $16,000 for TCMH Hospice of Care.
A fourth team, Crase-y Good Chili the TCMH Family Clinic team, received a special mention for their fundraising efforts. The team raised $2,882 in only two weeks.
The three chili judges representing sponsors and supporters of the event were Sandy Howard from Progressive Ozark Bank in Houston, Dr. Matt Brown from Mercy Clinic in Houston and Steve Pierce from Online Metal Supply in Houston.
Community members in attendance voted on “People’s Choice,” and TCMH employees voted on “Best TCMH Chili” with a ballot they received when entering the event.
Winners in the chili competition were: The TCMH Medical Complex team, Flavors of Fall sponsored by Dr. Cory Offutt, stands with their 1st place “Judge’s Choice” prize. From left: Holly Atterberry, MaKenzie Richards, Dr. Cory Offutt, Denay Green and Bailey Howell.
•Judge’s choice: Flavors of Fall—TCMH Medical Complex sponsored by Dr. Cory Offutt.
•Spiciest chili: sMASHin Chili—TCMH med surg sponsored by Dr. Jason Loden.
•People’s choice: Happy Feet Chili.
•Best TCMH chili: En Caso De Emergencia—TCMH EMS sponsored by Dr. Selina Jeanise.
The best decorated booth went to The A Team sponsored by Air Evac Lifeteam.
Gentry said teams helped sell raffle tickets for a Ruger American 6.5 Creedmore and a Kawasaki-brand utility vehicle that were raffled at the end of the event. Jim White of Elk Creek won the UTV, and Junior Greer of Edgar Springs won the gun.
Donations came in the form of sponsorships by area businesses and local community members for chili teams, corporate and entertainment sponsorships, cash donations and donations of items for the auctions.
The Healthcare Foundation has a designated “Hospice Fund” where the cook off funds and other donations to TCMH Hospice of Care are held.
For questions about the Chili Cook Off, please contact the TCMH Healthcare Foundation at 417-967-1377.