Get ready to spice things up! Tickets available now.
The 21st Annual Chili Cook-Off will take place at Brookwood Village on March 1, 2025. Learn more about sponsorship and sign up here.
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 20th Annual Chili Cook-Off was held on March 2, 2024 and raised over $520,000 for The Exceptional Foundation. 151 chili cook teams competed for our grand prizes, and more than 13,000 people attended.
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!
Jalapeño Sponsors
Superior Irrigation and Landscape Supply
Southeastern Sealcoating Inc
O'Neal Steel Nelson Brothers
Altec Capital Services, LLC
Altec Nueco
Capstone Building Corporation
McGriff Insurance Services, LLC
Marathon Electrical Contractors LLC
Hoar Construction
Southern Sky Aviation
RADERMcCARY, Inc.
Motivated Movers
C-Spire
EBSCO - "Spice Busters"
Doster Construction
Ardent Preschool & Daycare
Porter Capital Vaco, LLC
ONeal Medical / CPAP Plus
GHT Group
Red Diamond
AFS Foundation & Waterproofing Specialists
Cooper Construction
Millhouse Howell Landscaping
JJ Kane Auctions
TASSCO
Hargrove Engineers and Constructors
Strong Automotive
BL Harbert International
Murray Construction
Yates Engineering and Construction
Southern Nuclear
Cushman & Wakefield
HPM
Shaw Technology
Starnes Davis Florie
Brasfield & Gorrie R5
Ready Mix
CraneWorks
Spicy Sponsors
Steel City Chili 1
Little Pigs Roofing
Shades Valley Lutheran Church
Southpace Properties, Inc.
ServisFirst Bank
River Bank and Trust
Urban Cookhouse
EPIC Insurance Brokers
Edgewood Blvd
H2 Real Estate
Command Alkon
Maynard Nexsen
Heninger Garrison Davis, LLC
MJ Harris Construction Services, LLC
Weinberg Wheeler Hudgins Gunn & Dial
Rumberger Kirk
Ryan Goolsby - State Farm
BLOX
Salser & Smith
Williford Orman Construction
Local 1295
Commerce One Bank
Samford Sigma Chi
Alpha Lumber and Millwork
AmWins
Payroll & Benefit Solutions, LLC
OHD
Hufham Farris Construction
The Birmingham Men's Law Firm
Red Rock Realty Group
Core Specialty
Vestavia Fire Department
Cadence Bank
Blake Smith - State Farm
Rotaract Club of Birmingham
TA Services
Higher Roof Solutions
Deploy
Homewood Firefighters Association
OS1 Orthopedic and Sports Injury Clinic
Spearhead Integrated Solutions
Guild Mortgage
the competition will be heated!
Meet the Judges
2025 Chili Cook-Off Judges
stephen allen, Williams Blackstock Architects
Jennifer andress, homewood city councilor
andrew wolverton, homewood city councilor
john baldwin, uab
jim dunaway, next round live
dickey barlow, mountain brook city schools
jj bischoff, city of homewood
maggie brooke, community volunteer
margaret brooke, cobbs allen
john day, de vinci’s
paul demarco, al house rep
sims gaston, city of mountain brook
will haver, taco mama, oteys
mark ingram, athletic director, uab
jalete nelms, homewood city councilor
john jordan, regions bank
drew langloh, president, united way of central alabama
david loper, protective life
roy morton, architectural heritage
scott myers, alabama sports hall of fame
hunter payne, hunter’s cleaners
geno pearson, bmr
nick sims, homewood city councilor
lauren sisler, espn
barry smith, homewood city councilor
graham smith, mountain brook city councilor
jeff stone, brasfield & gorrie
michael turnbough, rAYMOND JAMES
AUSTIN VIRCIGLIO, PIGGLY WIGGLY
TRIPP WATSON, the watson firm
JOHN PARKER WILSON
STUART WELCH, MAYOR, CITY OF MOUNTAIN BROOK
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.
