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  • Mike Hockett and Ernie Collins stuff their faces with marshmallows and graham crackers during an eating contest at the second United Way of Southern Illinois tailgate party. The party, on the roof of the Bank One parking garage, was the initial event in the United Way’s fundraising season. Hockett was the overall winner of the eating contest. RORYE O’CONNOR/REGISTER-NEWS

    Tailgate kicks off United Way campaign
August 30, 2010

Tailgate kicks off United Way campaign

By RORYE O’CONNOR rorye.oconnor@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — Under the stars, those involved in the United Way of Southern Illinois launched their 2010 Campaign with a goal of $340,000.

A contest of the best wings and chili, live music and getting to know one another was the order of the day for the volunteers, organizers and benefactors involved in the United Way of Southern Illinois.

“We are so pleased with the turnout,” said Rhonda McCowen, executive director of the United Way of Southern Illinois. “We had 17 chili contestants, 14 wings and 10 judges. What a great way to kick off football season and our campaign.”

McCowen said the overarching goal of the evening was to let everybody in the community know it’s time to give and volunteer with the United Way again.

“We need to reach into our hearts and take care of our own,” she said. “I’m really proud of what our agencies do. They’re suffering; state cuts and the budget crisis are affecting our agencies. It’s time for us to roll up our sleeves and do the possible.”

Agencies who receive funding from the United Way like The Amy Schulz Child Advocacy Center and the American Red Cross of Greater Southern Illinois, as well as donor agencies like Continental Tire the Americas set up tents and booths where they served their spiciest wings and chili.

Wendy Rue, of the Mt. Vernon Little House Foundation, said she enjoyed the camaraderie between the agencies at the event.

“It helped out getting to know the other people,” she said. “It’s fun, it’s a novel idea; if it weren’t so hot it would be even more fun.”

Judges of the wing contest, including David Lister, Granada Center for the Performing Arts board member and David Overstreet, 2nd Judicial District Circuit Court Judge, rated the wings on aroma, color, texture, taste and overall quality.

Continental Tire won in the hottest wings category, which was not a surprise to Dawn Heacock, CTA communications manager.

“Our wings are very, very hot,” she said. “Whether we win or not, we had fun.”

Continental Tire has been declared as the pace setter for the 2010 Campaign, with a goal to raise $70,000 internally.

“We had to pull something together for the tailgate party,” Heacock said. “We definitely have to support the United Way.”

The 2010 campaign co-chair, Larry Carrico, said his goal is to get more people in the community to participate in United Way activities and to encourage younger people to take an interest.

“I’m real optimistic,” Carrico said. “The biggest reason is I look at our board and staff, and everything’s there. We just have to start knocking on doors. I’m going to do a lot of asking. If there’s anything I’m not afraid of, it’s asking everybody for help.”

The winner of the “chili with beans” category was Mike and Sharon Beard with “Just Chillin’.” Uncle Joe’s Deli, in Ina, won for the “chili without beans” and the “hottest chili” categories.

The YMCA of Jefferson County won the “pretty darn good wings award”, CTA took the “hottest wings” title; and Uncle Joe’s took home another trophy for the “wing king” award.

The tailgate party also involved an eating contest, in which contestants had to eat marshmallows, graham crackers, chocolate syrup, hot dogs and soda in a particular order. Mike Hockett, of Caught in the Moment Photography, Logan Payne and Ernie Collins earned the top three finishes for the preliminary contest, and then Hockett won the grand prize for winning a “hands-free” Jell-O and whipped cream round.

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