By Colleen Kochensparger

news@kykernel.com

Kappa Kappa Gamma and Phi Kappa Tau will host their first-ever philanthropic chili cook-off Sunday starting at 11 a.m.

The cook-off, taking place in the South Campus parking lot known as the six-pack, will feature chili cooked by student organizations across campus to raise money for Shriners Hospital and SeriousFun camps.

“Basically, there will be a competition between, hopefully not only the Greek organizations, but all student organizations,” said Nolan Atkins, cook-off coordinator and Phi Tau philanthropy events chair.

Each entry will be judged by both the audience and a panel of celebrity judges such as Interfraternity Council President Nolan Jackson, Stone Cold Willow and football players.

The winners whose chili dishes are chosen in each category win a $100 donation to the charity of their choice.

Tickets cost $3 if preordered and are $5 at the event.

Each ticket includes a chance to taste and compare the chili recipes, as well as to sample one of the sponsors’ drinks, such as Red Bull, Ale-8, water from Collegiate Kentucky or sweet tea from Raising Cane’s.

Cane’s also will be providing Texas toast to all ticketholders.

This is the first joint philanthropic event between Phi Kappa Tau and Kappa Kappa Gamma, Atkins said.

“Hopefully it’ll become an annual thing,” he added.

Kappa Kappa Gamma President Katie McQuerry hopes there will be widespread campus participation in the event.

“We’re hoping to get different groups involved; not just the Greeks,” McQuerry said. “Like the dorms and Campus Outreach.”

Despite the fact that this will be the first year of the chili cook-off, coordinators remain hopeful for the charities involved.

This is a small event in comparison with larger Greek charity events, said Lindsay Stellar, Kappa Kappa Gamma philanthropy chair.

“This is just a local event,” Stellar said. “We want to raise a little bit of money for these charities as everyone else’s philanthropy events are winding down.”

Both organizations carefully considered which philanthropies they would support.

A lot of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority members volunteer at Shriners, McQuerry said.

SeriousFun camps allow ill children to have a fun summer camp experience, Atkins said.

Those involved with organizing the cook-off have high hopes for the amount of money that will be raised and the nature of the event itself.

“It’s something different,” McQuerry said. “It’s something unique.”