Chili cook-off to benefit SPCA of Texas

Each year, 200,000 animals are euthanized in North Texas, 100,000 from Dallas County alone. Beta Theta Pi fraternity and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals are teaming up this weekend to raise awareness of animal cruelty.

The fraternity will host its seventh annual Great Beta Chili Cook-off benefiting the SPCA of Texas Saturday. This year’s event will feature a chili competition and a pet adoption booth, as well as musical performances by New York blues man Davis Coen and classic rock cover band G-Man Band, Beta philanthropy coordinator Kevin Mosley said.

Dead Thing, a Grateful Dead cover band, will headline the event.

Around 60 teams will compete for the competition’s top prizes. Trophies and cash prizes will be awarded in the first, second, third and fourth place categories, Beta President Chris Parish said. The team with the hottest chili will also be recognized.

Team registration is $100. Teams may have up to five members.

Individual tickets can be purchased in advance for $8 and at the door for $10. However, tickets purchased at the event will not benefit the SPCA.

Last year, the event raised $3,500 for the organization. Parish said the fraternity’s goal this year is $7,000.

“We try to do the best we can each year,” Parish said. “We think this year will be one of the best ever. The SPCA is a great organization and we want to make as big of an impact as we possibly can.”

Mosley agrees.

“We support the SPCA as our official philanthropy because it does such a great job caring for neglected animals,” he said. “There are so many animals out there that need to be loved. It is a problem that many people overlook. An event like this raises awareness of a very important issue.”

Mosley has helped organize the event for the past three years.

“This is a really great day,” he said. “It’s definitely the heart and soul of Beta. We look forward to it year round. It takes a lot of preparation, but it is worth it. Who doesn’t want to help save a puppy or a kitty?”

SPCA directors said fundraisers such as this one are important to the organization since it does not receive any tax dollars from the government. All donations must come from private organizations and individuals, Anita Edson, SPCA director of media relations said.

“We are thrilled with Beta’s participation,” Edson said. “Every little bit helps and the animals are the ones that really benefit.”

Parish said the partnership between Beta and the SPCA has been positive for both organizations.

“It is a real unifying event for our house, and the SPCA is grateful for the contribution we make each year. Basically, it’s just a great feeling when you can do something positive for the community and have fun at the same time,” Parish said.

Edson agrees.

“The donations we get from this event enable us to respond to the needs of neglected animals and improve the quality of life for both pets and people,” she said.

Past cook-off participants say they have been anticipating the competition all year.

“I’ve been to Chili Cook-off every year since I’ve been at SMU,” senior art history major Rebecca Reardon said . “It’s definitely one the highlights of the year.”

The cook-off begins at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Green Elephant Bar & Grill on Yale Boulevard. Advance tickets and registration forms will be available the remainder of the week from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. inside Hughes-Trigg at the Crossing. Pony Express is also accepted.

For more information, or to register a team, contact Alex Lestock at (214) 768-5291.