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October 23, 2014The Texas County Memorial Hospital Healthcare Foundation is gearing up for the Eighth Annual Chili Cook Off on Sat., Nov. 8th at 11 a.m. in the Community Building at the Texas County Fairgrounds. The Foundation is hosting the event to raise funds to benefit TCMH Hospice of Care.
Jay Gentry, director of the Healthcare Foundation, is overseeing the chili cook off and related activities. “In 2013 the Foundation brought in over $46,785 for Hospice of Care,” he said. “We have a tradition of holding an event that provides fun and entertainment for all ages and raises much needed funds for a really good cause.”
The TCMH Healthcare Foundation Chili Cook Off will feature 16 teams competing for chili prizes and in raising money for Hospice of Care. The event will also feature music, a live auction, a chili dog eating contest, a cake walk and booths with special foods or games 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. Currently Intercounty Electric Cooperative; Landmark Bank in Houston; Big Country 99; Community Bank N.A. in Summersville; Raymondville United Methodist Church; Houston Walmart Supercenter; Mercy Clinic-Houston; Houston High School Administration; Kerr Healthcare Services; The Durham Company; Gentry Residential Treatment Center; Spearpoint, LLC; Drury University and Cox College Cabool Campus; Dr. Jonathan Beers; Dr. Lynn Hauenstein and Dr. Christopher Baldwin have sponsored chili cooking teams.
“There’s some healthy competition among our hospital departments, too,” Gentry said. “TCMH Home Health of the Ozarks team will be defending their “Judge’s Choice” title, and the TCMH EMS team will try to claim the “People’s Choice” chili title again.
Three TCMH departments are also participating in the cook off—the EMS department, the medical surgical department; Home Health of the Ozarks and Dr. Christopher Baldwin and Tracey Arwood, CNM of the TCMH Medical Complex in Houston.
Several handmade items that will be auctioned at the upcoming Eighth Annual TCMH Healthcare Foundation Chili Cook Off to benefit Hospice of Care.
The auction features several local artists. Russ and Joanne Biros donated a Noah’s Ark set that was carved by the Lake Ozark Woodcarvers. Alice Wells made and donated a needlepoint piece. Harold Mitchell made and donated a cedar blanket chest in honor of his mother who was in Hospice of Care service. A queen-size hand pieced quilt has been donated by Carolyn Mason.
Other donated items in the auction include one locally raised beef; a five-day stay cruise from New Orleans to Cozumel and Progresso in Mexico; a Branson holiday getaway for two that includes tickets to Silver Dollar City and to Disney’s Frozen on ice, and an overnight package to DownStream Casino Resort in Quapaw, OK.
Several large raffle items will also be awarded to winners at the event.
All of the chili cook off teams are raffling tickets for a Jayco Sport Series 10 Pop Up Camper and a Tikka T-3 Hunter .30-06 rifle. The raffle items will be immediately awarded following the live auction.
Brandon Beck, meteorologist at Springfield television station KY3, will serve as the master of ceremonies for the day’s events.
“Hospice of Care has a long tradition and a well known reputation for providing physical, mental and spiritual care for terminally ill patients and their family members in Texas County and the surrounding area regardless of their ability to pay for the services,” Gentry said. “Many people look forward to the annual Hospice fundraising event as a way to give back to a charity that has benefited them, their family or friends.”
Hospice of Care provides end of life care for patients and their families regardless of a patient’s ability to pay for the service. If insurance coverage is not available, Hospice of Care may use Chili Cook Off funds to purchase medications in addition to providing care at no charge.
“Our goal is to raise at least $50,000 for Hospice of Care through the raffles, cook off ticket sales, the auction and team fundraising,” Gentry said, noting that the proceeds from the Chili Cook Off remain in Texas County to benefit area residents.
The Healthcare Foundation has a special “Hospice Fund” for the chili cook off money and other hospice donations such as memorials. “A very important aspect of the annual Hospice of Care fundraising 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,” Gentry said. “Once again, the Foundation board of directors and Hospice of Care staff are excited to bring this event to the community.”
Tickets to the event are $10 for adults and $5 for children and are available through Hospice of Care and the Healthcare Foundation at TCMH.
For more information about a sponsorship or to make a gift in support of the chili cook off, contact the TCMH Healthcare Foundation, (417) 967-1377 or online at www.tcmh.org.