Chili Open Golf Classic

A B’last of Winter Fun for Charity!

By: Ken McEntee
Date: 01/15/2008
February in Northeast Ohio means Valentine’s Day, snow...and golf. That’s because the Chili Open Golf Classic, hosted by the Rotary Club of Strongsville, has become a winter tradition. The 17th Annual B’laster Chili Open, presented by Radius Communications, will be held Saturday, February 23, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds, in Berea.

The Chili Open gives golfers a chance to shake the cobwebs from their clubs with some brisk, challenging outdoor golf on three frosty nine-hole courses set up at the fairgrounds. A heated clubhouse gives players a place to thaw out and enjoy all the food and beverages they want, like hot Wendy’s chili. And a golf pro from the Northern Ohio Golf Association will be available to offer tips.

But you don’t have to golf to have a B’last at the Chili Open. Come and enjoy a day of family fun featuring games, a raffle and a high-energy celebrity auction.

Top prizes in this year’s raffle will be a loge for 12 at a 2008 Cleveland Indians game, donated by Teamz Restaurant and Bar and Tony K’s Bar and Grille, and a loge and beverage package for six at a Lake Erie Monsters hockey game, donated by AmTrust Bank.

The best part is it’s all for charity.

Over the first 16 years of the Chili Open, the all-volunteer event has raised more than $1.5 million, netting more than $1 million to give vital assistance to local charities as well as Rotary projects locally and around the world. Each year a variety of charities are selected to receive proceeds from the event. Past recipients have included organizations like Ronald McDonald House, Easter Seals and the JD Breast Cancer Foundation.

This year’s proceeds will benefit the disabled golfer program of the Northern Ohio Golf Association, Easter Seals of Northeast Ohio, Greater Cleveland Boy Scouts, Youth Challenge, Youth Opportunities Unlimited, Hanson House, the Help Foundation, Arrupe Neighborhood Partnership, the Cleveland Scholarship Program,

First Glance Teen Mom Program, Strongsville Council of PTA and Strongsville Instrumental Music.
In addition to local charities, Chili Open proceeds have funded Rotary projects like Polio Plus, an initiative that has nearly obliterated the crippling disease worldwide.

For the third straight year, B’laster Chemical Companies Inc., of Valley View, Ohio, has signed on as the title sponsor, along with Radius Communications.

Joining B’laster and Radius as major sponsors of this year’s event are Clear Channel Outdoor, WTAM 1100 AM, Phoenix Wealth Management, Wendy’s, Tony K’s, Teamz, AlphaGraphics of Strongsville, Southwest General Health Center, Pat Catan’s, Today’s Business Products, Key Bank and Mimi Vanderhaven.

And business owners and managers take note: There is still time to sign on as a sponsor. What a great way to promote your business, have a great time and help a lot of people, all at the same time. Sponsorship levels range from $200 to $10,000. Swing over to the Web site at www.chiliopen.org, or call 216-898-4719 for full sponsorship details.

Celebrity auctioneers who have committed so far this year include Jimmy Malone, from WMJI 105.7 FM; Bruce Kalinowski, from WKYC TV Channel 3; and Harry Boomer, from WOIO TV Channel 19.

Advance registration for the event, by February 15, is $35 per person, or $120 per foursome, and includes unlimited golf and food. After February 15, the cost is $40 per person. For more information about sponsoring, or to register for golf, food and fun, visit www.chiliopen.org, or call 216-651-9917. The Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds are located on Bagley Road, one mile west of I-71.

Rotary is an international organization of business and professional people who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations and strive to build goodwill and peace in the world.

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