Thursday, November 19, 2009

Sponsor A Chili Cookoff

Help raise funds for your community by sponsoring a chili cookoff.


Sponsoring a chili cookoff event can help to raise money for various charities, clubs and organizations. Sometimes a chili cookoff is planned to bring a community together for a time to socialize, meet new people, and test your chili taste buds. Chili is a delicious soup-like dish that includes peppers, beans, meat, tomatoes and different types of spicy flavors, such as cumin. Some types of chili have no meat and others have no beans. Create an original chili recipe using lamb, beef, chicken, or make a vegetarian style dish. Nearly everyone has their favorite chili recipe, but all recipes contain some type of spicy hot pepper.


Instructions


1. Choose a day for the chili cookoff at least three to four months in advance to give yourself time to find sponsors and participants. Find a location for the cookoff, such as a public park, if the event is to be held outdoors. Secure an alternate location, such as a large hall or school cafeteria in the event of inclement weather.


2. Find sponsors for the event to help cover the costs of supplies, such as napkins, plastic spoons and bowls, cups, refreshments and prizes for the winners. Advertise the cookoff and invite people to participate in the contest. Secure any necessary permits required by local authorities.


3. Decide if you will charge an entrance fee for cookoff contestants. Request that all contestants complete and submit an entrance form one month before the event. Sell tickets to the event as soon as the minimum number of contestants have committed to participating in the cookoff.








4. Recruit local celebrities, politicians and community leaders to serve as judges no later than two to three weeks before the day of the cookoff. Set up tables to display the chili the day before the cookoff. Prepare a refreshment and condiments table.








5. Print a judging sheet for each contestant and give copies of the judging sheets to each judge. Ask each judge to rate the flavor, color, aroma and consistency of each chili on a scale of one to 10. Award prizes to the three highest scores and provide consolation prizes, such as a bottle of hot sauce or a ribbon, to all contestants.

Tags: chili cookoff, before cookoff, chili recipe, each judge, event help