Colonie Central High School iCare program hosted their 7th annual Chili Cook-off event on Saturday, April 2 raising $1720 for American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), iCare’s partner in creating awareness and support for individuals impacted by mental health issues including suicide.
Nearly a dozen community groups participated in this year’s event including the town’s Fire Departments, Colonie EMS, and Albany County Sheriff’s Department. The event featured ten delicious samples of chili and a special entry from the South Colonie Board of Education members.
The panel of judges including representatives such as Town of Colonie Supervisor Peter Crummey, Spectrum News on-air personality Julie Chapman, Sheriff Craig Apple and others, selected the South Colonie Board of Education entry as this year’s winner. Dan Burnetter Heart of Gold award (formerly People’s Choice award) went to the Stanford Heights Fire Department.
“We’re thrilled to provide this opportunity for our students each year,” said associate principal Brian Scalzo. “They go through the entire process of selecting a charity at the beginning of the year and then the students are responsible for the planning and execution of events like this to support that charity. This year, we are proud to partner with AFSP and we are thankful for the community’s continued support of events like this one.”
“Our Chili Cook-off event is fun,” said iCare co-presidents Treva Warzocha and Madelyn Terry. “We really appreciate everyone who made chili, judged chili and came out to sample it! For every dollar that you helped us raise to shed light on a difficult subject, thank you!”
All contributions generated from this event will support American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to support suicide prevention. Since inception, iCare has raised nearly $90,000 in support of local charities.
About iCare
Colonie Central High School iCARE began as an initiative where both faculty and students could have a common forum to express and affect change for the better of the school community. iCARE is a character-building program that uses five core values to shape decision making. The ultimate goal is that students and adults in the Colonie community understand and enact the ideologies of Integrity, Community, Accountability, Respect, and Empathy as defined through the many interactive teachings of iCARE character and community workshops.
About American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)
Established in 1987, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) is a voluntary health organization that gives those affected by suicide a nationwide community empowered by research, education and advocacy to take action against this leading cause of death.