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First Annual $10,000 XDI CU Chili Challenge Deemed ‘Huge Hit’

Pacific Marine Credit Union wins 1st Annual XDI CU Chili Challenge; Rady Children’s Hospital to receive $5,000 donation from the $10,000 raised for credit union charities. 

SAN DIEGO, CA (August 9, 2013) — Never one to let its business simmer, Xpress Data, Inc. (XDI) hosted its inaugural – and highly unique – “Xpress Data, Inc. Credit Union Chili Challenge” at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club Racetrack on August 3, 2013. The International Chili Society sanctioned event hosted 10 California credit unions that competed for trophies, bragging rights, and a total of $10,000 in prize money for their charities. The winner also qualified to compete in the Homestyle Division of the 47th Annual International Chili Society (ICS) World’s Championship Chili Cookoff in Palm Springs, CA, October 11-13, 2013.

Top three winners of the 2013 XDI CU Chili Challenge include:

  • 1st place: Pacific Marine CU – Their Chilis-a-Blazin’ team, led by Chief Cook Lynette Chubb, earned a $5,000 cash donation for their charity, Rady Children’s Hospital.  The Pacific Marine team is also looking forward to competing in the Homestyle Division of the ICS World’s Championship Chili Cookoff in Palm Springs this fall.
  • 2nd place: 1st United Services Credit Union – Chili Chili Bang Bang, with Chief Cook Laura Poerink, earned a $3,500 donation for their charity, Alternative Family Services of Alameda.  Chili Chili Bang Bang also won the People’s Choice award.
  • 3rd place: USE Credit Union – Team Fat Chili, led by Chief Cook Steve Ewers, earned a $1,500 donation for their charity, SDSU Alumni Association Scholarship Program.

Other competing teams were:

  • Hot Pink Chili Peppers from Kinecta Federal Credit Union
  • Cabrillo Cajuns from Cabrillo Credit Union
  • Hillbilly Chili from Chevron Valley Credit Union (winner of Best Booth decoration)
  • The Searing Eagles from Eagle Community Credit Union
  • Chili Gone Wild! from OE Federal Credit Union (winner of Best Showmanship)
  • Team Nougat from San Francisco Fire Federal Credit Union
  • Red Hot Chili’s from POPA Federal Credit Union

Six of the competing credit unions even held internal chili cook offs to select the best chili to represent their credit union. An additional financial contribution to support the unique event was made by SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union. Plans are already in the works to host next year’s XDI CU Chili Challenge to an even bigger field of competitors.

“This event really breaks the mold of traditional credit union gatherings outside the workplace,” states Mike Cooper, President/CEO of XDI. “Our mission here was to provide enhanced credit union awareness to consumers at a heavily attended public venue [more than 20,000 patrons at the racetrack that day] but also show that this industry is committed to giving back and supporting its community charities – just like we at XDI are committed to supporting our credit union community. We look forward to hosting this unique and entertaining event again next year.”

About Xpress Data, Inc.
Xpress Data, Inc. is a service company focused exclusively on the customization, production and delivery of Credit Union Member correspondence.  Since launching our flagship XpressNotice™ service in 1999, XDI has created an entire family of branded services including XpressStatement™, XpressTax™ and eXpressServices™ – a feature-rich electronic document presentment platform d`esigned from the ground up by and for Credit Unions.  Composing, producing and delivering statements, notices, letters and tax forms for Credit Unions is not just another service provided by XDI, it’s the company’s core competency. For more information, visit www.xdi.com.

About The International Chili Society
Founded in 1967, the International Chili Society sanctions more than 200 chili cookoffs every year. These events are worldwide and benefit charities or nonprofits.  Over the past 46 years, the ICS has raised more than $90 million for these organizations.  All winners of ICS sanctioned cookoffs qualify to compete for cash prizes and awards at the World’s Championship Chili Cookoff held each year in October.  In addition to raising money for charity, ICS strives to promote, develop, and improve the preparation and appreciation of chili and further the camaraderie of chiliheads everywhere. For more information, visit www.chilicookoff.com.

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