May 21, 2009

RFK STADIUM HOSTS RECORD CROWD FOR 2009 DC101 CHILI COOK-OFF

Event raises record $1.6 million to fight kidney disease in Washington, D.C. area

(Washington, DC) – The RFK Stadium Festival Grounds hosted an event record 30,000 people for the DC101 Chili Cook-Off, an annual one-day festival which features the top bands and dozens of the area’s best chili cooks, on May 16, 2009. Celebrating its 30th anniversary in style at RFK, the DC101 Chili Cook-Off benefiting the National Kidney Foundation raised more than $1.6 million to fight kidney disease in the Washington, D.C. area, making it the National Kidney Foundation Serving the National Capital Area’s largest one-day fundraiser in history.

The stellar lineup of bands played a big role in attracting the record crowd. Musical acts included The Offspring, Third Eye Blind, Shinedown. Papa Roach, Puddle of Mudd, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, and Niki Barr Band.

The Chili Cook-Off featured a fierce competition between 101 chili cooks in a variety of categories including Red Chili, Green Chili, Freestyle, and Salsa. The winner of the Red Chili Competition, Trevor Bothwell, will go on to compete in the World Championship in the fall. Among the celebrity judges were Washington Redskins tight end Chris Cooley and safety Reed Doughty, whose son received a kidney transplant in March 2008, “America’s Next Top Model” alum Sara Albert Hallmark, and FOX5 weekend anchor Will Thomas, whose mother is a kidney transplant recipient.

Growing in stature and gaining momentum every year, the DC101 Chili Cook-Off is one of the largest events of its kind in the nation. Funds raised support the National Kidney Foundation’s programs in research, patient services, professional and public education, and organ donation awareness.

In March, the DC Sports and Entertainment Commission announced a long-term partnership with the National Kidney Foundation Serving the National Capital Area to hold the DC101 Chili Cook-Off on the RFK Stadium Festival Grounds starting in 2009.

About DC Sports and Entertainment Commission
The DC Sports and Entertainment Commission, an independent agency of the District of Columbia Government, seeks to enrich the local community by attracting and hosting sports, entertainment and special events in Washington, D.C. while promoting the Nation’s Capital as a premier event destination. In addition, the mission of the organization is to support citywide community events and programs involving youth, amateur and professional sports. The DCSEC operates the Stadium-Armory campus which includes RFK Stadium, the DC Armory and the surrounding Festival Grounds and serves as the landlord of Nationals Park. For more information, please visit www.dcsec.com.