CREDIT: STEPHANIE LAI
Fanshawe's United Way campaign launched with a spicy kick, as the annual Chili Cook-Off took place in F-Hallway feeding staff and students who donated $5 to the cause.

Fanshawe College President Peter Devlin announced the $107,000 goal for this year’s Fanshawe United Way campaign on October 1 as well as the Chili Cook-Off People’s Choice Chili Award winner, the School of Tourism & Hospitality’s Falcon Fireball Chili.

The annual Chili Cook-Off event that was held in the F-Hallway pitched the last year’s champions, the Fanshawe Student Union, against the School of Tourism & Hospitality and Chartwells.

The FSU’s Great Bowls of Fire came in second, and Chartwells’ Hot Hog Chili came in third.

“This isn’t about winning or losing,” said FSU president Matt Stewart. “Yes, there’s a trophy at the end of the day, but I think being out there, serving all the people coming through and paying the $5 to go towards the United Way campaign that was kicked off today was definitely what we’re here for.”

United Way London & Middlesex is an organization that sponsors programs and initiatives within the community that help marginalized individuals.

“For the School of Human Services [and] Fanshawe in general, United Way is really important, because we rely so much in our community through placements and often providing services to your students that we’re just really delighted to be able to support the United Way,” said Sandra Fieber, the chair of the School of Human Services.

The purchase of a $5 lunch at the Chili Cook-Off helps a United Way-funded initiative, which provides breakfast to children in need for two weeks, according to a Fanshawe press release from last year.

“I was very, very pleased with [the event],” Fieber said. “It engaged both faculty and students together into a really worthwhile cause. There’s lots of excitement, and I think anytime that faculty and students can become more connected to the community is a wonderful thing.”

Last year marked the fourth year in a row that the campaign has raised over $100,000 in a year. The campaign has raised over $1 million since 1991.

“I’m super proud of Fanshawe College, our people and the contributions that we make to United Way,” Devlin said.