Chili Cook Off — The Exceptional Foundation
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Chili Cook-Off

 
 
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Chili Cook-Off 2025 Winners

Grand Prize

Williford Construction

1st Runner-Up

Brasfield & Gorrie “Chili Ray Cyrus”

2nd Runner-Up

Guild Mortgage

People’s Choice Award

Samford Sigma Chi

Participant’s Choice Award

Altec Capital

Sportsmanship Award

First Horizon

Spirit Award

1st Place - Strong Automotive

2nd Place - Hargrove Engineering

3rd Place - Edgewood Blvd

The Exceptional Foundation’s largest annual event is the Chili Cook-Off, which was named Best Community Event by Mountain Brook Magazine and Best Annual Charity Event by About Town Magazine. All proceeds from the event – featuring live music, a kids’ zone, and all the chili you can eat – directly benefits our programs at The Exceptional Foundation.

The 2025 Chili Cook-Off was held on Saturday, March 1. The event featured 140 cook teams and was attended by over 14,000 people. Proceeds from the Chili Cook-Off provide a significant source of funding for programs at The Exceptional Foundation, where we promote lasting friendships, healthy living, life skills, and community involvement for adults and youth with intellectual disabilities.

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 A special thank you to

Our 2025 Sponsors

 

This year, we are partnering with Alabama Power’s Renew Our Rivers program, one of the nation’s largest river clean-up projects. Alabama Power has been part of The Exceptional Foundation’s Chili Cook-Off for many years, and we are grateful for their continued support.

 
 

VIP and Judges Sponsors

 
 
 

Kids’ Zone Sponsor

Tent Sponsor

 
 
 

Click the buttons below to view our 2025 sponsors!

 
 
 
 

the competition will be heated!

Meet the Judges

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Your Questions, Answered

Frequently Asked Questions

Who does the Chili Cook-Off benefit?

The Chili Cook-Off is a family friendly event featuring live music, a kid zone, and all the chili you can eat.  In 2024, the event raised over $520,000 for The Exceptional Foundation. 151 chili cook teams competed for our grand prizes, and more than 13,000 people attended.

When and where is the Chili Cook-Off?

The Chili Cook-Off is held on the first Saturday of March each year.

How do I register a team?

Teams are reserved on a first-come, first-serve basis for our Chili Cook-Off sponsors. There are three levels of sponsorship available for your company, organization, or team. We encourage both corporate and indiviudal sponsors to participate! If you want to be put on the list to be called when teams open up, please email Haley Brothers at hbrothers@exceptionalfoundation.org.

What if it rains?

Rain or shine, we are still on!

Where do I get tickets?

Tickets can be purchased on this webpage when they are available or at The Exceptional Foundation location prior to the event for $15. The day of the event, tickets can be bought at the entrance for $20. Children 12 and under enter free.

How are the winners selected?

Winners of the Grand Prize, First Runner-Up, Second Runner-Up, and Spirit Awards are selected by a panel of judges. The People's Choice Award is given to the team who gets the most votes by patrons at the event. The Spirit Award is given to the team with best tent decoration, costumes, etc., and is voted on by the judges and Exceptional Foundation participants.

How do I vote?

Scan the QR code on your favorite team's tent to vote electronically for People's Choice. Votes must be placed by 2 p.m. and each ticketholder is only eligible to vote once.

 

 

Donate to The Exceptional Foundation

At The Exceptional Foundation we are committed to enhancing the lives of all those with special needs, regardless of their financial means. Donations from individuals, corporations and grants fund ¾ of our operating costs. Caring for a loved one with special needs can be both rewarding and challenging. Your donation makes it possible for exceptional individuals to participate in our programs, benefitting our participants as well as their families and caregivers.

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