After pulling off a colossal three-day shindig and then knuckling down on the requisite number-crunching, board members of the Mexican National Chili Cook-off completed their mission for 2014 with the March 21 distribution of proceeds among six deserving community organizations.
According to the cook-off’s new chairman Bob Howe, the event netted a total profit of 239,509.83 pesos. The board elected to hold back 25,000 plus change as a start-up kitty for next year, splitting up the rest proportionately between the Center for Family Development, Chapala’s Home for the Elderly, the Chapala Red Cross, Lakeside School for Special Needs Children the Deaf, Love in Action Children’s Home, and the Chapala Civil Protection Firefighters Unit.
The municipal fire department, a first-time beneficiary this year, collected its share in new gear rather than the payment by check handed out to the other groups. Several board officers had previously accompanied chief officer Lorenzo Salazar on a shopping trip to a specialized equipment outfit in Zapopan, shelling out for the purchase 10 fireman’s helmets and eight pairs of heat-resistant gloves.
The charitable contributions were handed out at a short ceremony held on the al fresco dining terrace at Ajijic’s Hotel del Pescador, a key cook-off corporate sponsor. After extending thanks to out-going chairman Dave Paterson for his work and dedication, Howe announced that innovative plans for the next cook-off are already on the burner. The dates set for 2015 are February 27 through March 1.