St. Isidore holds 'Chips & Chili' fundraiser

Get ready to test your luck and your taste buds.

St. Isidore School's second major fundraiser of the school year, Chips & Chili Casino Night and Chili Cook-off, will be from 6 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14, in the St. Isidore Parish Ministry Center, 427 W. Army Trail Road, Bloomingdale.

Contestants in the cook-off will vie for attendees' votes to earn prizes and bragging rights as the top St. Isidore Chili Chefs for one year. Tasting of each contestant's chili will be offered free to attendees.

Free snacks will be available throughout the evening, with beer and wine available for purchase.

St. Isidore Principal Cyndi Collins said the Chips & Chili fundraiser evolved last year out of an effort to create a community event to help augment the school's annual major fundraising efforts: a biannual Children's' Clothing and Equipment Resale, 3-on-3 basketball tournament and its annual Gala/Auction Dinner Dance, which collectively raise more than $100,000 annually to support school operations.

"We rely heavily on fundraising events so we can keep tuition in check and provide an affordable Catholic elementary school education to our local community," Collins said.

"Events like Chips & Chili allow the school to provide the critical educational resources that the annual operating budget, tuition and parish subsidy cannot accommodate.

"We're also pleased to be able to offer the St. Isidore School and Parish community, as well as the local community, a fun evening and opportunity to support Catholic elementary education."

Tickets to Chips & Chili tickets are $35 at the door. Attendees must be 21 or older.

Attendees will receive casino chips for four games, and can choose from Texas Hold 'em poker, blackjack, roulette, craps and bingo. They also will be able to exchange chips for raffle prizes.

Those wishing to donate more than the admission fee will receive additional gaming chips.