Greenville, SC:  The Board of Trustees of St. Francis Fall for Greenville has announced several awards and donations which were made possible via the 26th Anniversary of the event this past October.  The items announced today include charitable donations to various non-profit organizations, as well as additional donations throughout the year.

“St. Francis Fall for Greenville gets bigger each year, and we are always pleased to support the organizations who assist us with the operation of the event,” stated Rory Whelehan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees.  “St. Francis supports us in a big way as the title sponsor, and they put much more into weekend with their participation in their 'I Feel Good' area.  We feel that it is important for our board and sponsors to see the big picture and use the event to support the folks who support us.”

This year, a check for a record $32,200.75 was presented to local non-profit organizations, including $25,000.00 earmarked to 14 organizations that participated in the Volunteer Partner Program.  Volunteer totals for the weekend included 7,403 hours worked by 1,410 volunteers.  The 14 non-profits who received financial support from the event through the program, sponsored by EarthFare are:

ORGANIZATIONS                                
Greenville Humane Society                       American Red Cross 
SHARE                                                             Women Build
Operation Bear Hug                                     Newcomers of Greater Greenville          
Foster Parent Association                         Hands on Greenville
Roundtowners                                              Adoption Coalition for Education
Blue Star Mothers                                        Berea VFW
Meals on Wheels                                         Boy Scout Troop 260

* Special silver coins were earned by volunteers during St. Francis Fall for Greenville for extraordinary customer service acts during the weekend.  Operation Bear Hug collected the most coins and received an additional $100.00 bonus for their cause.  Boy Scout Troop 776 earned $1,267.00 for handling the trash collection process at the event.

Additional benefactors include the St. Francis Holiday Festival ($5,000). Also included in the total is a donation to the St. Francis Foundation based on proceeds from the sell of a 10-foot Organic Chocolate Chip Cookie provided by Immaculate Baking Company.

Each year, restaurants who are involved with the food offerings on Main Street have the opportunity to participate in competitions that are designed to challenge their staffs.  Contests include a Waiters’ Race, Bartenders’ Mix-off, Tent Decoration, Silver Spoon, Ice Carving, etc..  Attached to this release is a full list of winners in each competition, who also received trophies and cash rewards totaling $9,850.00.

The dates of the 27th edition of the St. Francis Fall for Greenville have been set for October 10-12, 2008.

2007 St. Francis Fall for Greenville COMPETITION PRIZES/CASH AWARDS/WINNERS

WAITER’S RACE (presented by AT&T Yellow Pages)
1st         $500 & plaque               -           Paul Schmutzok (Barley’s Taproom)
2nd        $300 & plaque               -           Jenn Gill (Barley’s Taproom)
3rd         $200 & plaque               -           Jeff Windt (Blockhouse Restaurant)

BARTENDER’S MIX-OFF (presented by AT&T Yellow Pages)
1st         $500 & plaque               -           Mariah Windt (Sassafras)
2nd        $300 & plaque               -           Joanna Clary (Sassafras)
3rd         $200 & plaque               -           Alex Sorello (Tsunami)

TENT DECORATING (judged)
1st         $500 & plaque               -           Blue Ridge Brewing
2nd        $250 & plaque               -           Blockhouse Restaurant
3rd         $150 & plaque               -           The Cazbah

SILVER SPOON TASTER’S CHOICE (judged)
1st         $300 & plaque w/spoon             -           Tsunami Sushi
2nd        $200 & plaque w/spoon             -           Thai Restaurant
3rd         $100 & plaque w/spoon             -           Brick City Grill

SILVER SPOON PEOPLE’S CHOICE
1st         $200 & plaque w/spoon             -           Sticky Fingers
2nd        $100 & plaque w/spoon             -           Sassafras
3rd         $  50 & plaque w/spoon             -           Mimi’s Steakhouse

ICE CARVING (presented by Greenville Tech and US Foodservice) (judged)
Pro 1                1st         $700 & plaque               -           Ryan Spangler
                        2nd        $300 & plaque               -           Edwin Hutchison
                        3rd         $200 & plaque               -           Terry McLees
Pro 2                1st         $500 & plaque               -           Landy Randolph (The Cazbah)
                        2nd        $300 & plaque               -           Edwin Higgenbotham (Westin Poinsett)
                        3rd         $200 & plaque               -           Dirk Rusthoven
Novice              1st         $300 & plaque               -           William Bowen
                        2nd        $200 & plaque               -           Nate Mercer
                        3rd         $100 & plaque               -           Joe Cash

WSSL-FM CHILI COOKOFF (judged)
Pro                   1st         $1,000 & plaque            -           Foothillls Deli
                        2nd        $   400 & plaque            -           Blue Ridge Brewing
                        3rd         $   200 & plaque            -           Barley’s Taproom
Novice              1st         $   500 & plaque            -           Team Laginappe
                        2nd        $   250 & plaque            -           Habanero Hot Heads
                        3rd         $   100 & plaque            -           Dead Earl’s Killer Chili  

WSSL-FM CHILI COOKOFF
(People’s Choice)          $   150 & plaque            -           3rd Degree Bean Chili    

JALAPENO PEPPER EATING CONTEST (presented by AT&T Yellow Pages)
1st         $300 & plaque                                       -           Morgan O’Donnell
2nd        $200                                                     -           Greg O’Donnell
3rd         $100                                                     -           Becky Fowler