Chili cookoff raises over $400,000 for Exceptional Foundation

Another team took home the pepper-covered trophy in the 13th annual Exceptional Foundation Chili Cookoff, held at Brookwood Village on March 4.

The cookoff is one of the largest fundraisers of the year for the foundation, and this year's event raised over $400,000. The funds support the Exceptional Foundation's programs for people with special needs.

"Who would've ever thought 13 years ago that people would pay to make chili, and people would pay to eat chili," Exceptional Foundation Executive Director Tricia Kirk said. "All of you have changed someone's life today."

Visitors to the cookoff got free samples from as many of the chili teams as they could handle, as well as the opportunity to vote for their favorite recipe. The cookoff also featured beer, Steel City Pops, music from Teenage Daddy, cornhole and kids activities such as face painting and coloring.

This year's Spirit Award winner was the AmWINS Group's team, "Chillin' with my Gnomies." Second place went to IberiaBank and third place went to Direct Path.

First Commercial Bank won the Exceptional Choice award and CBRE won the People's Choice trophy. The Grand Prize winner was Bradley Arant Boult Cummings, with M & B Hangers winning first runner-up and Heninger Garrison Davis taking second runner-up.