Chili Cook Off Raises $47,862 for Hospice of Care

“Deductive Seasoning”, the Sherlock Holmes-themed team sponsored by the Houston Walmart Supercenter won the top prize of the cook off for raising the most funds for Hospice of Care–$6938.98.

The Houston Walmart Supercenter came away as the big winner at the Tenth Annual Texas County Memorial Hospital Healthcare Foundation Chili Cook Off in Houston on November 5^th.  “Deductive Seasoning”, the Sherlock Holmes-themed team from Walmart, raised $6,938.98 to benefit TCMH Hospice of Care.

The team from the Houston Walmart Supercenter was one of 14 different teams that cooked chili and competed for prizes in six different categories.  This year’s team fundraising effort totaled $24,897.43, which represented over half of the $47,862 raised overall through sponsorships, admission, and auctions at the event.

All of the funds raised at the Foundation event benefit TCMH Hospice of Care which provides end of life and grief support care for patients and their families in Texas County and the surrounding area.

Each five member cook off team adopted a theme, a team name, and set about raising funds for their team earlier in the year through “casual days” at work, yard sales, raffles, bake sales and other means.

The Houston Walmart Supercenter had 82 associates that volunteered to walk over 500 hours in their free time, earning the team a $5,000 donation from the Walmart Corporation which they used to benefit Hospice of Care and to boost their team fundraising efforts.

“This event would not be possible without the incredible effort of the chili cook off teams,” Jay Gentry, TCMH Healthcare Foundation director, said.

Also receiving top prizes for fundraising efforts were “Glory Bowl”, the TCMH emergency medical services team, which raised $3,907.25 to receive second place in the team fundraising category.

“Team Jayson” sponsored by Peoples Community Bank in Cabool cooked and served chili out of a giant balloon helmet. They won third place for team fundraising at the event.

“Team Jayson”, a Cabool-based team in memory of Jayson Gentry, raised $3,338.27 for the third place prize.

About 300 people were in attendance at the event at the Texas County Fairgrounds and Community Building.  Deep Fried Squirrel, a Rogersville, MO-based bluegrass band, played throughout the day.  Twenty-one different chili recipes were available for those in attendance to sample and to enjoy all day long, too.

Chili styles ranged from spicy to white, some chili recipes were made with beans and some without beans, and there was chili made with shrimp and chili with corn.

Three chili judges representing sponsors and supporters of the event were Earleen Holder from Progressive Ozark Bank in Houston; Shari McCallister from D&L Florist in Houston, and Dr. Cory Offutt, from TCMH.  Prizes were given to the chili teams who were competing in several different categories.

“Judges Choice” and first place went to “Under the Sea-Mermaid Couture”, the TCMH obstetrics department which made a chili featuring shrimp.  The judges awarded second place to “The Mad Hatter’s Chili Party”, Security Bank of the Ozarks, which made a traditional red chili.  Third place went to “Happy Feet”, the Raymondville United Methodist Church which made Dutch oven style chili.

Under the Sea-Mermaid Couture was the theme of the TCMH Obstetrics department. The team won “Judges’ Choice” for best chili and also won awards for the “Best Decorated Booth”, “People’s Choice” and “TCMH Choice”.

Seven teams made an additional chili style to enter into the “spicy” category. Winning the “Spiciest Chili” award was the “Grid Iron Gang”, the TCMH medical surgical department.

The cook off teams set up booths according to their team theme on Friday and Saturday morning of the event.  All teams had a team name and a theme, and the judges awarded prizes to the best decorated booths and booth themes.

Houston R-1 School had a Lego-themed booth for “Building Tomorrow’s Leaders”.  “Team Jayson” wore matching football jerseys and had a giant helmet made out of balloons from which they served chili.  “FBLA Cowboys and Chili” was a wild West-themed booth by the Houston FLBA.

First place in the booth decorating category was “Under the Sea-Mermaid Couture”, a booth laden with fish, octopi and jellyfish.  The OB department nurses dressed as mermaids, and Dr. Christopher Baldwin of TCMH dressed as Poseidon, complete with golden triton.

Security Bank of the Ozarks sported Alice in Wonderland costumes and chili condiments that said “drink me” or “eat me”.  Their “Mad Hatter’s Chili Party” won second place in the booth decorating contest.

“Bonafide Chili” from the “Grid Iron Gang”, the TCMH medical surgical department won for “Spiciest Chili” of 21 different chili recipes that were judged. They also won awards for Best Decorated Booth and People’s Choice.

The TCMH medical surgical department’s “Grid Iron Gang” wore old-fashioned prison costumes, beards and overalls with an “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” theme to win the third prize for decorations.

Everyone in attendance was given a ballot to exercise their own vote for the “People’s Choice” in chili or chili cook off teams.  The “Under the Sea-Mermaid Couture” won first for people’s choice.  “Happy Feet” won second place in the people’s choice category.  The “Grid Iron Gang” came in third for people’s choice.

TCMH employees in attendance were given the opportunity to vote for the “TCMH Choice” among TCMH teams participating in the event.  “Under the Sea-Mermaid Couture” also won among TCMH employee voters.

Gentry noted that teams helped sell raffle tickets for a shotgun and a Kawasaki-brand utility vehicle that were raffled at the end of the event.

David Johnson of Sullivan won the UTV.  Pat Bryant of Mountain Grove won the shotgun.

As part of the day’s festivities, Gentry recognized Holder and Progressive Ozark Bank for sponsoring the Chili Cook Off since the event’s inception in 2006.  Holder has also worked as a judge at the competition for several years, too.

“Judging is always a challenge,” Holder said.  “There have been some interesting moments.”

Gentry presented Holder with a plaque in recognition of the bank’s support.

Carol Honeywell serves up chili from “Happy Feet” a cook off team sponsored by Raymondville United Methodist Church.

Russ Stigall, pastor of First Baptist Church in Houston, served as master of ceremonies for the event, handing out awards and making announcements throughout the day.

Dr. Jonathan Beers, medical director for TCMH Hospice of Care, praised the TCMH hospice team for providing services that rival hospice agencies in larger, metropolitan areas.

“Our hospice team is here to provide care for the whole family, and they do great work at easing a lot of pain and suffering,” Beers said.

Beers thanked everyone for their donations to the local hospice and encouraged them to continue to support the local charity.

Jake Scheets donated his time to auctioneer the live auction portion of the event.  Silent auctions also were available throughout the day.

After Saturday’s event, the cook off raised $36,060 in cash donations and $11,802 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.

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.

The Healthcare Foundation has a designated “Hospice Fund” where the cook off funds and other donations to Hospice of Care are held.