Roseville, Calif.- Hundreds came out to the Maidu Community Center last Friday night to taste and vote on chili made by local elected officials, education, business, and government leaders at the Roseville Celebrity Chili Cook-Off.
FOX 40’s Morning News Anchor Paul Robins took home the 1st place trophy for his smoked baby-back ribs chili. Close on his heels, in 2nd place was Nick Brooks of Coldwell Banker Sun Ridge Real Estate and 3rd place award went to the spicy chili of William Jessup University’s President John Jackson.
While a panel of judges decided the top three winners, the attendees voted in a different pot of chili as their favorite. Mickey Maxey of Windermere Granite Bay Realtors walked away as the recipient of the People’s Choice Award.
As winner of the People’s Choice winner, Maxey was able to direct one of the prizes – a $1,000 scholarship – to a local college or university. Maxey chose a future William Jessup University student as the recipient of this year’s award.
The competition for Best School’s Chili – and the $3,500 worth of Point Break training – was won by Eich Intermediate School, beating out Granite Bay, Adelante and Antelope High Schools.
“We are grateful and inspired by the support from the community,” said Rob Maxey, organizer of the event and coordinator of the after-school programs that promote safer and healthier school environments. “It is an honor to stand alongside these influential leaders as we serve the needs of students in our community.”
The proceeds from the event went toward after-school programs for teenagers and Point Break, an evidence-based program designed to address social issues such as harassment, prejudice, bullying, and suicide.
The success of these programs in addressing these serious issues caught the attention and garnered the support of Westpark Associates, the event’s largest sponsor.
Raising more than $20,000 for the programs was a team effort on behalf of all the event sponsors, including: Hanson McClain Advisors, Halldin Public Relations, Biddle Consulting Group, MacKay & Somps Civil Engineers Inc., Roseville Mayor Susan Rohan, Capital City Solar, Windermere Granite Bay Realtors, Auburn Constructors, Tesco Controls Inc., Pexa Insurance, Community 1st Bank, EYEcenter Optometric, First Northern Bank, Sun Ridge Coldwell Banker, Gateway Real Estate Company, George and Jen Phillips, Morton & Pitalo Inc., and Sinclair, Wilson, Baldo & Chamberlain.