The Strongsville Rotary Club will be holding its 21st Annual Chili Open at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds in Berea on Saturday, February 25. The classic golf event is sponsored by Blaster Chemical.
The event will take place from 9am to 4pm and include a day of gold, Wendy’s chili, beer, raffles, a celebrity auction and other contests.
Members of the Rotary Club have been working all year to ensure the event is another success.
Rotary Club President Bruce Keenen said, “From an insider’s perspective, watching the club members work together and display coordination and cooperation is great. It’s a really fun day.”
The Chili Open raises about $100,000 each year. The Rotary Club then donates the money to different charities. Since the first Chili Open in 1992, the organization has raised more than $2 million for charity.
This year’s recipients are Achievement Centers–Camp Cheerful, Applewood Centers, Asha for Education, Boys Hope Girls Hope of Northeastern Ohio, Cleveland Scholarship Programs, Easter Seals, Light House, Malachi House, Rose-Mary Center and Youth Opportunities Unlimited.
The Rotary Club is still accepting items or packages for the event’s auction.
“We’re always looking for trip packages, vacation packages, equipment like snow blowers or golf equipment,” Keenen said.
Items need to be donated by Feb. 20 in order to be listed in the event’s program. To donate items, visit the Chili Open website.
Tickets for the event can be purchased online at chiliopen.com for $35 per person prior to the event or $40 at the door the day of the event. A four pack of tickets is $120. Tickets can also be purchased at the North Coast Golf Show at the I-X Center Feb. 17-19.
According to Keenen, about a thousand people including club members and volunteers are expected to attend the event.
