NYFAC Barbecues For Charity
Wake-N-Bacon BBQ teammates Craig and Steve hard at work at the “Smoke on the Water” BBQ Competition.Barbecue aficionados from across the region gassed up their grills on Saturday, June 11, for the start of the “Smoke on the Water” BBQ competition sponsored by the New York Families of Autistic Children (NYFAC) Foundation and Thrivent Financial.
Andrew Baumann, CEO of NYFAC, Inc., said that following the overwhelming success of last year’s chili cook-off fundraiser, the foundation—a non-profit charity organization dedicated to bettering the lives of those affected by autism— decided to take a different approach, with a summertime BBQ competition.
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| The BBQ Competition also featured live music. |
“We’re always looking for new and innovative ways to help raise money,” Baumann said.
In addition to the competition, the charity fundraiser also featured live music, a DJ, carnival games for kids, a raffle and prizes to win.“We’re always looking for new and innovative ways to help raise money,” Baumann said.
“Half of the proceeds will go towards building a new addition [to the NYFAC facilities on Cross Bay Boulevard] that will benefit kids in the agency and will serve as a disaster relief center in an emergency,” said Anita Sessa, NYFAC executive assistant to the CEO.
The other half of the proceeds raised at the event will be donated to the VFW to assist with local programs for veterans.
Four teams from Queens and Long Island traveled out to VFW Post No. 260 in Broad Channel, over the weekend, to compete in a culinary battle royale for first prize.
During the competition, the four teams raced to prepare a variety of different entrees, including: steak, chicken and pork dishes, which were judged by members of the NYFAC board of directors.
Jim and Ray, better known by their team name, “the Babylon Grillbillies,” said the best part of the event is not the competition, but the comradery.
“It’s really not about the food; it’s about the people you meet,” Jim said. “Any good charity, we’re all for doing.”
This also marked the first competition for Crown City Barbecue from Corona, Queens. Teammates Rich and Eddie said that after five years of grilling in the backyard, they were ready to take on “the big leagues” of competitive barbecuing. “It’s soothing to me,” Rich said. “It’s therapeutic because it takes a long time to make…and it tastes good.”
After tasting a sample from each competitor, judges named Rich and Eddie of Crown City Barbecue the winners.
Richie, Frankie and Bart help serve food to hungry donors.
Adam, Matty and Chris from Matty Smokes BBQ in Long Beach, compete in the “Smoke on the Water” BBQ Competition
Employees with Thrivent Financial help raise money for charity.
Rick Marsh, Joe McMahon and Liz Jordan help out the cause.
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