It's A B'last

On Saturday, February 28, the Rotary Club of Strongsville will hold its 18th Annual B’laster Chili Open.

By: Ken McEntee
Date: 02/04/2009
You don’t have to golf to have a B’last at the Chili Open Golf Classic. The 18th Annual B’laster Chili Open—presented by Radius Communication and hosted by the Rotary Club of Strongsville on Saturday, February 28, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds—offers a full day of hot indoor fun that includes all you can eat and drink, along with 27 blustery holes of golf outside.

“The Chili Open is the best kept secret in Northeast Ohio,” says Bob Hale, Cleveland’s most sought-after benefit auctioneer. “It is truly a great event.”

Bob, owner of Benefit Auction Services, peddles tens of thousands of dollars worth of donated items every year at the Chili Open celebrity auction. Each year, the celebrity auction features some of some of Cleveland’s top radio and television personalities and athletes, who help Bob raise money for local charities and humanitarian Rotary projects.

Over its first 17 years, the all-volunteer Chili Open has netted more than $1.1 million for charity.
Among the roster of celebrity auctioneers at this year’s event will be WTAM 1100 AM’s  Mike Snyder, of the Wills & Snyder morning show; Jimmy Malone, of WMJI 105.7 FM’s Lanigan and Malone Show; Harry Boomer, of WOIO, Channel 19; Bruce Kalinowski, of WKYC, Channel 3; and former Browns quarterback Mike Pagel.

Always at the center of the auction excitement are the Hat Guys—also known as the Mad Hatters—a group of high-energy buds who assemble once a year to eat, drink and buy stuff. This year, the Hat Guys, who have attended every Chili Open since the event began, have taken a lead role in soliciting items to auction off.

“The Chili Open is a great event with a fun atmosphere and it’s all for a great cause,” says Bill Henry, the top hatter. “We’ve been coming to the Chili Open with our crazy hats and having a great time for 17 years. After last year’s event we decided that we wanted to help out and put together some Hat Guy packages for people to bid on.”

The group has solicited items to put together seven packages ranging from golf and leisure packages, to a NASCAR package that features a shirt signed by Richard Petty.

“We had just two of us at the first Chili Open,” Bill recalls. “The next year we brought two more and it grew from there. This year there will be 15 of us and we won’t be hard to find.”

Among the auction items Bob and the celebrity auctioneers will pitch this year will be two floor seats at a Cavs game; two tickets to the Nationwide and Sprint Cup race at Talladega; various getaway packages; a 26-inch Pacific Mountain bike; a loge for an Indians game; opening-day Indians tickets; and a whole locker room full of autographed sports memorabilia and golfing items.

The huge spread of eats, as always, will feature hot Wendy’s chili and plenty of cold beer.

“Chili Open is a unique event that brings crazy people together with wonderful sponsors and generous participants who make dreams possible for a lot of people,” says Sheila Dunn, president of Easter Seals Northeast Ohio, one of this year’s selected charity recipients.

Chili Open sponsorships are still available at levels ranging from $200 to $10,000.

Advance registration for the event, by February 20, is $35 per person, or $120 per foursome, and includes unlimited golf and food. After February 20, 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 216-898-4719. 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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