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The annual Classic Chili Cook Off to benefit the American Red Cross Central Plains Chapter is celebrating one of those big anniversary dates that end with a "0."
But Angie Schulte, accountant for the American Red Cross in Grand Island, said Saturday's annual "all-you-can-eat" extravaganza will not do anything special to celebrate its 20th anniversary.
She noted that annual Chili Cook Off in addition to being one of the organization's biggest fundraisers of the year is already its most visible.
The event will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Fonner Park.
Schulte said 38 cooks are scheduled to compete in the event, which includes awards for Best All Around Chili, Best Display and Best Apron.
Judges are Bill Dunn, editor of The Independent; Sue Pirnie, The Independent's 2007 Woman of the Yer; Jon Vanderford of KOLN-KGIN-TV; and Colleen Williams and Kent Boughton from NTV.
Emcee for the Chili Cook Off is Brad Fossberg of GI Family Radio.
The event typically draws between 800 to 1,000 visitors each year, depending on the weather and other events, Schulte said. This year, like last year, the Chili Cook Off will be competing for people's attention with the State Wrestling Tournamnet in Lincoln.
Schulte said visitors to the Chili Cook Off will vote for the People's Choice Award for their favorite chili.
Emergency services by all chapters of the American Red Cross, including the Central Plains Chapter in Grand Island, are mandated by congressional charter. However, those services are not government funded.
In addition to admission prices to the Chili Cook Off, money is raised through the sale of raffle tickets for prizes donated by local businesses. Raffle tickets are $2 each or three tickets for $5.
All proceeds from the annual Chili Cook Off are used locally to provide vital Red Cross services to area communities. Services include disaster assistance, sending emergency messages to military personnel, collecting life-saving blood products, and teaching life-saving skills, including CPR, first aid and AED.
The annual Chili Cook Off has four Gold Sponsors for 2008, seven Silver Sponsors and 19 Bronze Sponsors who help make the event profitable for the local Red Cross.
Gold Sponsors are Chief Industries, Fonner Park, Global Industries and KRGI Radio. Silver Sponsors are Associated Staffing, Byco Inc., KOLN-KGIN Television, MSAS, St. Francis Medical Center, Slumberland and Wells Fargo Bank.
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