By Joseph Slacian
jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com
WABASH COUNTY, Ind. – Chili enthusiasts from around Wabash County converged on Wabash Cannonball Lanes on Saturday afternoon for the annual Chili Bowl fundraiser.
Funds raised during the event are used as seed money for the annual Wabash Cannonball Chili for Charity Chili Cook-off.
About 16 teams participated in the annual event, which featured bowling, an auction and other fundraising activities.
Wade Weaver, Chili Cook-off committee member and bowling organizer, was pleased with the event.
“We’ve had a couple years when we’ve had a little over 20 teams at the event,” he said. “The last couple of years we’ve had mid-teens. But it always seems like, it doesn’t matter how many teams, people are so generous around here.”
The event raised more than $3000, the best bowling event to date.
The fundraiser had a few new aspects to it this year. In years past, raffles were held for various donated items. This year, several items, most of which were donated by the Wabash County Solid Waste Management District, were auctioned.
“I think when you get people excited about bidding up people and things like that, I think it’s better than people buying tickets and picking which items they want.
“I think the live auction is better. We did really well with that.”
Weaver thanked the Solid Waste Management District and its director, Jen Rankin, for donating items to the event.
“I’ve got to thank Wabash County Solid Waste Management District and Jen Rankin,” he said. “She donated most of the auction items. She also put two teams together.”
Rankin said she enjoys participating in the bowling event.
“This is one of my favorite events to come out and support,” she said. “I wish everyone would do this. We have a blast. It’s so much fun.”
In addition to the auction, strike jackpots took place throughout the day, with a person selected to bowl winning a cash prize. Most of those who won donated their winnings back to the chili committee.
Now in its 17th year, the Wabash Cannonball Chili for Charity Chili Cook-off will take place on Saturday, Oct. 19, at Paradise Spring Historical Park. In the first 16 years, the event has raised more than $550,000 which has been donated back to Wabash County charities.
