CONTEST REPORT (October 23 2006)

LOCAL COLLEGE STUDENT WINS CHARITY PIZZA EATING CONTEST

Luigi’s Pizza Kitchen in Branson, Mo. sponsored their first ever Charity Pizza Eating Competition to benefit the Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks (BCFO). The event, aptly titled,

“PIZZA with a PURPOSE” took place on SATURDAY, October 21 outside the Luigi’s NORTH location in Branson. Jeremiah Jones, a sophomore at College of the Ozarks in Branson, took first place by finishing his pizza in just 3 minutes and 14 seconds, and won the grand prize of $250 and free pizza for a year.   

The goal of the contest was to eat one of Luigi’s large (14”) thin-crust cheese pizzas in the shortest amount of time. New Branson resident Rex Adams took second place, finishing his pie in 3 minutes and 31 seconds, and Josh Martin, another C of O student finished third in 3 minutes and 44 seconds.   

Other highlights of the afternoon included a face-off between six members of the Branson Fire Department who competed against each other during the event.   

“It was thrilling to see the guys from Branson Fire & Rescue come out to support the event. As far as the contest goes, these guys run into burning buildings for a living, so a pizza eating contest is like a walk in the park,” says Chris Jordan, owner and operator of Luigi’s Pizza Kitchen.

The combined total of participant entry fees, charitable donations and raffle sales was just under $500, all of which goes directly to the Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks.   

“We’ve always wanted to do a pizza eating contest, and because our anniversary each October coincides with Breast Cancer Awareness month, we decided to use the lure of our delicious food to raise money for an important cause. We consider the event a success and plan to do it again next October,” says Jordan.

Luigi’s Pizza Kitchen and the Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks would like to thank all the local merchants who donated items to the raffle, including Rib Crib, Casa Fuentes, Cold Stone Creamery, John Deere--Green Toys & More, Go Fish--Clothing & Jewelry Co., Yakov Smirnoff Theater, Chateau on the Lake, Jim Stafford Theater, Silver Dollar City Attractions, Legends Theater and Ozark Window Tinting.