SAN DIEGO—Cuatro Caliente, a team of employees from SchoolsFirst FCU, won the first place award at Xpress Data, Inc.’s 6th Annual Credit Union Chili Challenge at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club Racetrack.
The $14.7-billion SchoolsFirst in Santa Ana, Calif. has donated its $6,000 prize to Children’s Hospital of Orange County. Cuatro Caliente also qualified to compete in the ICS 2018 World Championship Chili Cook-off Sept. 28-30 in St. Louis.
The Credit Union Chili Challenge, sponsored by Xpress Data, Inc., awarded $25,000 worth of prize money this year to charities chosen by the winners of 23 competing credit union teams.
The $235 million POPA FCU won Second Place. Team Red Hot Chilis will donate their $4,000 prize to the Sheriff’s Youth Foundation of Los Angeles County.
A $2,000 Third Place prize was awarded to the B2 Stealth Chili Bombers from the $1.2-billion Northrop Grumman FCU. The Gardena, Calif.-based credit union also won the People’s Choice Award, which was determined by voting from hundreds of people who attended the event. They will donate a total of $6,000 to Big Sunday – Wrapp1NG Warmth, which donates new coats to the homeless.
The $831-million Pacific Marine Credit Union of Oceanside, Calif., which won two awards in last year’s competition, was awarded Fourth Place and a $1,500 prize. Team Chili Chili Bang Bang will donate to Rady Children’s Hospital of San Diego.
Fifth Place went to A Perfect T.E.N. Chili from the $6.4-billion Patelco Credit Union of Pleasanton, Calif. They will donate their $1,000 check to UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Foundation.
“This year, we donated more prize money than ever before, and hosted the most credit union teams ever,” said Xpress Data, Inc. President Mike Cooper. “XDI’s Credit Union Chili Challenge continues to grow in popularity among the credit union community, and we couldn’t be prouder of everyone involved in making this our best year yet.”
Among the judges were Stickley on Security CEO Jim Stickley, LA Financial Credit Union President/CEO Carol Galizia, Cabrillo Credit Union President/CEO Anne McClure, Pacific Marine Credit Union President/CEO Bill Birnie, and Point Loma Credit Union President/CEO David Brooke.
Other Winners
Other winners included the following credit union teams.
People’s Choice Award
Second Place: Team Chili on Tap from the $281-million San Diego Metropolitan Credit Union, who will donate $2,000 to Rady Children’s Hospital.
Third Place: Team Krewe of Chili Peppers from the $930 million Jefferson Financial Credit Union of Metairie, La., who will donate their $1,000 prize to the Louisiana SPCA Foundation.
Best Booth
Team Hot and Wild from the $296-million Cabrillo Credit Union of San Diego, who will donate $1,000 to Rady Children’s Hospital.
Best Spirit
Team A-Chilies of Troy from the $967-million USE Credit Union of San Diego, who will donate $1,000 to The Salvation Army.
Social Media Participation
Team Chili on Tap from the $281 million San Diego Metropolitan Credit Union, who will donate another $1,000 to Rady Children’s Hospital.
The company said that credit unions that didn’t compete can prepare to participate in next year’s event by downloading a free chili cookoff kit that includes step-by-step instructions and electronic versions of all the documents needed to make their own event a success. The kit can be downloaded by visiting XDI’s website at http://www.xdi.com/ChiliCookoffKit.