Last Thursday, Derek Fiorenza of Fiorenza’s Food for Friends (F4) was the West Chester Rotary Club’s featured presenter. His topic? The 2024 Chili Cook-off. This spring, the West Chester Rotary Club made the difficult decision to back away from its popular fall fundraiser, eventually turning it over to the nonprofit food brokerage firm F4. (They connect groups and events with excess food and nonprofits with the resources to distribute them.)
The scale of the event and the time and effort required to pull it off year after year (after year) had grown beyond the capabilities of the all-volunteer club.
“After 21 years of bringing this popular, annual event to the Borough of West Chester, members of the Rotary Club of West Chester find it has outgrown our Club’s capacity to manage,” the group shared in a statement last March.
The group also struggled to tie the cooking competition to its core mission: “provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards, and work to build goodwill and peace in the world.” Chili is yummy, but how does it tie to any of those things?
“We had ‘charity,’ generically but never a direct connection,” said former Rotary President Rich Murray, who helped lead the event transition.
F4 wasn’t the only organization to show interest in the event but it may have been the most eager.
“He’s the first one to raise his hand when the Chili Cookoff became available,” said Rotary member Jeff Cantwell of Derek. The scouting team vetted 14 organizations but many came to the same conclusion as the Rotary Club, the lift was just too heavy for the payout.
Stepping up to the pot
Not Derek. Despite having a small core organization, just two paid staff, F4 has embraced the challenge whole-heartedly. Fortunately, they have a few key things going for them.
1). Access to a large group of volunteers. In a matter of weeks, F4 has secured the volunteer support of the Freemasons and their thousands of members. They also have connections to many local food agencies, the local EMTs, and the support and insights of the Rotarians, many of whom have already provided help.
“What they have done is nothing short of remarkable,” said Derek. “We have big shoes to fill.”
Which brings us to advantage number two.
2). Determination to make this happen. With approval granted in May, the team got to work quickly. They secured approval with the Borough in Aug. and have moved to promotion. They have a new website up, a press release out, and social media campaigns underway. In two weeks, they have registered 12 teams with 8 more interested. They have a goal of 30 by the end of the month and 50 in time for the cook-off.
“What they have accomplished in such a short time is amazing,” said Rich.
In addition to working on the core logistics, they have big ideas on how to make the event their own. They are expanding outreach to the local nonprofit community, offering them event day table space for free. “It’s an opportunity to bring the community’s resources together,” said Derek. (More information on how to get your nonprofit involved will be available on the website next week.) They are also introducing a new high school division with the hopes it will spark future community service. “That’s how I got started,’ said Derek, who helped his mom cook meals for a church program when he was a kid.
And there’s some exciting news for attendees too. This year there will be a beer garden – and better yet, a West Chester favorite will lead it. “I am excited to announce that Levante Brewing will be our partner for the first-ever beer garden at the West Chester Chili Cook-Off,” Derek, shared in a hot-off-the-presses announcement last night.
Cooking on all burners
3). Alignment. However, perhaps, the biggest advantage F4 has is its natural alignment with the event. “We connect the dots,’ said Derek. Students who start cooking now for local bragging rights could be future young adults who volunteer time at their local food shelter. Competitors can stew big batches of beans and beef knowing Derek and team will find any leftovers good homes. Industry connections can help bring down food costs for teams or give home cooks access to commercial kitchen space.
“How better to have an impact on hunger,” said Rich, “than to remind people of the need while they are enjoying all this amazing food.”
This year the goal is to get the event in the books and they have big ideas for the future.
“We want to expand beyond a competition to a rallying cry for the community to come together as one,” said Derek.
The West Chester Chili Cook-off returns on Oct. 6. Like in previous years, chili competitors will line up along W. Gay St. ready to dish out chili samples to everyone with a wristband. Chili competitors are still needed so grab a friend, grab a bucket, and get cooking. You can sign up here (also, maybe read the Chester County Health Board regulations before going with that ‘bucket’ suggestion.)
Originally published on Sept. 6, 2024
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