SAN DIEGO–SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union has won Xpress Data’s 4th Annual Credit Union Chili Challenge, beating out 18 other credit union teams.
The SchoolsFirst “Chili Dawgs” won $5,000 from XDI, which will be donated on behalf of the credit union to Children’s Hospital of Orange County.
Overall, the event sponsored by the San Diego-based XDI, which provides document services to credit unions, generated $14,000 in donations to credit union-supported charities.
“It’s exciting to see the momentum of this event continue to grow,” XDI Founder Mike Cooper said in a statement. “Credit unions love to compete with each other and they love to raise money for charity.”
Team Chili Con Credit Union, from the $950-million Xceed Financial Credit Union of El Segundo, Calif., won second place and a $3,500 check that is being donated to Children’s Miracle Network.
Third place was awarded to the $750-million Pacific Marine Credit Union’s team, Chili’s a Blazin’. The Oceanside, Calif.-based credit union is donating its $1,500 prize to Rady Children’s Hospital.
Other winners:
- The People’s Choice winner went to another team from Pacific Marine Credit Union, 55 Island Style Spice, which is donating its $2,000 prize to San Diego’s Rady Children’s Hospital.
- Chili de Janeiro, the $237-million Cabrillo Credit Union’s nod to the 2016 summer Olympics, won the Best Booth award. It donated its prize of $1,000 prize to Credit Unions for Kids.
- Team Backdraft from the $1-billion Firefighters First Credit Union of Los Angeles will donate its $1,000 Showmanship prize to the Fire Family Foundation.
The event attracted hundreds of people to the Del Mar Racetrack, spreading awareness of credit union membership. The Credit Union Chili Challenge was officially sanctioned by the International Chili Society, and all of the CUs that placed in the competition will advance to compete in the ICS World’s Championship Chili Cookoff in Reno, Nev., Oct. 21-23 for an opportunity to win even more money for their charities.