CWC, Mother Butter's, Park Schwinn and United Homeowners Host Bike Contest

Christmas Without Cancer founder Gerri Neylon accepts the first guess from granddaughter Emma, 7, who sized up the number of kernels in the jar at Mother Butter’s Popcorn & Confectionary in Evergreen Park in hopes of winning a red, Schwinn bike for Christmas with the best guess.

Can you guess how many kernels it takes to make a giant batch of popcorn?

Evergreen Park’s Christmas Without Cancer, Mother Butter’s Popcorn & Confectionary, EP United Homeowners Association and Park Schwinn Cyclery are hosting a contest to win a red Schwinn bike for Christmas, if you can guess.

Guess the number of popping kernels in the jar and win the bike on display at Mother Butter’s or put the value toward a new purchase from Park Schwinn Cyclery.

Mother Butter’s at 3342 West 95th street has the bike, jar and entry forms inside the store. Park Schwinn is across the street. Winners will be announced Thursday, December 18th when the three best estimates are identified. Second and third places prizes will be gift packages from Mother Butter’s.

“This is a real throwback to when a red bike under a tree was the ultimate in Christmas mornings,” said Village Trustee Mark Marzullo, who pledged the funding from the Homeowners Association. “And because Christmas brings out the kid in everyone, no one is too old to guess.”

While the contest resides at Mother Butter’s, the red bike and kernel jar will be showcased at Evergreen Park’s Dickens Christmas Saturday, December 6 from 2pm - 6pm at Klein Park. Mayor Jim Sexton will be joined by Village Trustees Mary Keane, Jim McQuillan and Marzullo for the Annual Holiday Tree Lighting ceremony in Klein Park, at 97th and Homan. The event includes sleigh rides, train rides, face painting and crafts, all capped off by the Annual Holiday Tree Lighting at 6 p.m., featuring hot cocoa, cookies and a visit by Santa Claus.

Mother Butter’s owner Tim Donnelly is also offering customers an opportunity to donate 10 percent of a purchase to benefit Christmas Without Cancer, as well as three other local non-profits: Br. Rice High School, Leo High School and Operation Snowball.

Operation Snowball is a program that for the last 10 years has been teaching students at Evergreen Park High School the benefits of leading lives that are drug- and alcohol-free.

Christmas Without Cancer, an organization started by Gerri Neylon, comes to the rescue of families impacted by cancer so they can focus on Christmas. The Evergreen Park volunteer group identifies needs and such things as utility bills, gas, parking and children in need of wrapped presents.

Mother Butters popped on the scene in 2009 and quickly drew praise from the media for its gourmet popcorn and treats. Steve Dolinsky, the host of “The Hungry Hound” on ABC 7, said: “Mother Butters has the best damn popcorn/caramel corn on the South Side—if not the city.”

For more information, call (708) 423-POPP (7677) or visit www.motherbutterspopcorn.com.