Addison Trail hosts chili cook-off to support Joey Banks Memorial Scholarship Fund
On Feb. 13, the Addison Trail Learning Services Department hosted a chili cook-off to raise funds for the Joey Banks Memorial Scholarship Fund.
To view a photo gallery from the event, click on the images above.
Six Addison Trail staff members (Chris Bazant, Michael Kennedy, Bob Carlson, Kelly Downer, Nick Pingel and Freddy Crone) made their best chili, which was available for other staff members to buy. Cookies (made by Jessica Murphy) and candy bags (prepared by Laura Weinbrenner) also were an option. Students in the School to Work and Link 1 classes helped as well, by making cornbread, promoting the event and taking payments.
The chili dishes were rated by a panel of judges, and the winners were:
- 1st place: Nick Pingel
- 2nd place: Michael Kennedy
- 3rd place: Chris Bazant
The event raised $400 for the scholarship, which provides $1,000 each year to an Addison Trail senior. Cottage Hill Operating Co. donated $250, and Caputo’s Fresh Market donated $100 in gift cards to sponsor and support the event.
Joey Banks was a student in the Addison Trail Learning Services program, who passed away in August 2022. He was a young man who brought happiness, love and the most amazing smile to everyone he met. Banks held firm the belief that ALL people, despite any differences, should be treated with respect and – above all else – kindness. Banks had physical limitations, so many simple things we take for granted were impossible for him. Despite this reality, he chose to see life in a positive way. He had a great sense of humor and loved to laugh. When he smiled, which was very often, everyone immediately felt the warmth of his character. He had a great empathy for others. He wanted to see his friends and everyone else in his life have the opportunity to set and reach their goals to be successful. Throughout his life, he touched an incredible number of people and was loved by many. To read more about Banks, go to https://www.dupage88.net/site/page/15045.