The Texas County Memorial Hospital Healthcare Foundation is recruiting teams for its second annual Chili Cook Off. The event, which benefits Hospice of Care, is Saturday, Nov. 1, in the community building at the Houston Area Chamber of Commerce.
Jay Gentry, director of the healthcare foundation, is overseeing the chili cook off and related activities. He said the foundation raised more than $23,000 in 2007.
“We hope to build on the great event we began last year and have a bigger and better event this year,” he said.
The TCMH Healthcare Foundation Chili Cook Off will feature 20 teams competing for chili prizes and raising money. The event will also feature music, live auction, cake walk and homemade pie auction as well as the opportunity to sample all the chili.
Chili cooking teams are comprised of five people and are sponsored by businesses and organizations. Current sponsored teams are First National Bank in Houston, Big Country 99, VIP Properties, Impressions Dental Ceramics, Sassafras Market and Salon, Bradford Funeral Home, Houston Community Betterment YOUTH and Gentry Residential Treatment Center.
Team sponsorship is $150 and includes long-sleeved T-shirts for the team members, cook passes and advertising promotion prior to the event. Businesses may choose to sponsor a team made up of their employees or a business sponsorship can support a team.
The event is limited to 20 teams, and those that want to get their team and sponsor names on the shirts and posters must register by Sept. 2.
Gentry is seeking chili teams that will include people from across Texas County.
“We are hoping to have chili teams from all of the areas where Hospice of Care services are available,” he said.
An award will be given to the team that raises the most money. Team fund-raising can be done before and at the event. Additional awards will be given for the team with best decorated booth, the best costumes and the best showmanship at the event.
A panel of judges will taste the chili and award a prize for the judges’ choice. There will also be a prize for the people’s choice, the kid’s choice and the spiciest chili. Trophies will be awarded in each category.
“Our goal is to raise at least $20,000 for Hospice of Care,” Gentry said.
Gentry explained that after the 2007 Chili Cook Off, the healthcare foundation set up a special “Hospice Fund” for the chili cook off money and other hospice donations such as memorials. The fund money is used to further the endeavors of Hospice of Care, which provides hospice care for terminally ill patients and their family members regardless of their ability to pay for the services.
“A very important aspect of the annual Hospice of Care fund-raising event is that all money raised at the event will stay in the Texas County area to benefit area patients,” Gentry said. “We want everyone to come out to our event, bring their kids and have an afternoon of fun while raising money for a very worthy cause.
“Once again, the foundation board of directors and Hospice of Care staff are excited to bring this event to the community.”
Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children and are available through Hospice of Care and the healthcare foundation at TCMH.
Business or organizations that wish to sponsor teams can obtain a complete set of rules and an entry form through the TCMH Healthcare Foundation by calling 417-967-1377 or visiting www.tcmh.org.