Bridge Communities Thanks the Community

Great food, great music, great volunteers and great weather were the main ingredients that concocted the successful 3rd Annual Glen Ellyn Backyard BBQ Cook-Off on September 10, 2011.  An estimated 1,000+ people attended the free one-day event, raising over $19,000 to support Bridge Communities’ mission of helping homeless families in DuPage County transition to self-sufficiency, permanent housing and financial stability.

Event Chair Tom Koprowski summed up the event this way: “Someone was quoted as once saying, ‘It is not enough to have a good BBQ, the main thing is to use it well.’ and that's exactly what we did!”

Bridge Communities Resource Development Director Amy Van Polen added, “Bridge Communities is extremely grateful to the folks who created and coordinated the annual Glen Ellyn Backyard BBQ Cook-Off.  It’s a really hard-working, fun-loving group, and they’re making a significant impact on our community, not only in creating a fun, downhome event, but by donating all of the proceeds to help homeless families right here in DuPage County.”

Forty amateur BBQ teams from throughout Illinois competed for tops prizes of best ribs, best dish (non-ribs), and best showmanship.  And the winners are:

Best Ribs:
1st Hot Diggity Hog – Wheaton
2nd Smokin’ Tasty - Huntley
3rd Hone-e-s Barbeque - Downers Grove

Best Dish:
1st Running With The Boars - Hanover Park
2nd Team Highlife - Lombard
3rd Southside BBQ - Chicago

Showmanship: Smokin’ Tasty – Huntley

Winners of the first annual Bags Tournament were John Ideler and Steve Pasinski of “In It to Win It” of Glen Ellyn.

Bridge Communities is extremely grateful to all of the event committee members, sponsors, volunteers, contributors, BBQ teams, and attendees who came together as a community to have fun and raise critical funds to help DuPage homeless families transition out of homelessness into permanent housing and stability.

The Glen Ellyn Backyard BBQ Cook-Off Committee was chaired by Tom “Pig Daddy” Koprowski and included co-chair Greg Bane, Tom Nelson, Lori Urick, Amy Thompson, Chip Miller, Bob Solak, Kirk and Emmarie Burger, and Matthew Whiteford.

Special thanks to the following individuals and organizations, without whose help the BBQ would not have been possible: Village of Glen Ellyn and Glen Ellyn Police Department; Village Links Golf Course; Alex Demos and Professional Paving and Concrete; Danny Sronkoski and Tap House Grill; Bill Murray; Paul Pitts and Glen Ellyn Park District; Eric Bruss and Bruss Landscaping; Mychelle Prichard, “The Hot Dog Lady”; and Matthew Whiteford and Whiteford’s “Love Your BBQ!”

Best Dish judges included local celebrities and culinary enthusiasts: Mark Pfefferman, Village President; David Kramer, chef instructor at College of Du Page; Anne Kryzsko, trained culinary chef from Le Deux Gras; Victoria Martin, private executive chef; Steve Haddon, District Manager for Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria; and Jill Fourcé, owner of Marcel’s Culinary Experience.

Event sponsors included:  Whiteford’s “Love Your BBQ!”, Glen Ellyn Bank & Trust, FloorOpedics, Euclid Beverage, The Abbey Resort & Avani Spa, The Hot Dog Lady, WDCB, Bubba Berk’s, 26Hot, Country Financial – Robert Kelly, aether dbs, The Kitchen Studio, DuPage Chiropractic Center, Tap House Grill, Hohner, Towntees, Health Track Sports Wellness, Hickory River Smokehouse, Riviera Jewelers, Ltd., Stubb’s, Hack’s, Marcel’s Culinary Experience, Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria, Weber Grill Restaurant, Alfie’s Inn, Adelle’s Fine American Fare, Dairy Queen, Honey, Austin BBQ, and Muldoon’s Eatery.

Afternoon entertainment was provided by blues sensations The Bill Ande Band, The Amy Kelly Band, and The Bluz Brothers.

Bridge Communities, Inc. is a dynamic, grassroots, nonprofit organization committed to transforming the lives of homeless families in DuPage County through partnering with talented, resourceful individuals and groups in the community.  Its program of transitional housing, mentoring and supportive services empowers the families to increase life skills and earning power to promote self-sufficiency, sustain permanent housing, and to break the cycle of poverty within the family unit.  What began by co-founders Mark Milligan and Bob Wahlgren when they decided, in 1988, to begin to help homeless families, has now become a powerful current of change in the lives of hundreds of extremely low to low income at-risk families.  To make a donation to support homeless families served by Bridge Communities, or to find out how to support Bridge in other ways, please call Mark Milligan at (630) 545-0610, ext.10 or visit www.bridgecommunities.org.
Photos available on request.