The Chili Kickoff Cookoff For Make-A-Wish is the brainchild of Matt and Judy Schnell, but it’s probably best to say that child is now an adolescent. Matt began raising money for charitable causes in college, and his early work benefited the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the American Heart Association. But Matt is a sucker for kids, and since he and Judy have four happy and healthy children, he sa
w Make-A-Wish as the perfect organization to receive his efforts. Matt went to work in 2008 organizing the annual Big Hitter’s Golf Outing, which has raised more than $20,000 for Make-A-Wish in five years. That wasn’t enough, so he and Judy opened their own home and created SchnelltemberFest, an Oktoberfest-style party full of music, raffles and auction items that raised $29,000 in 2012 alone. SchnelltemberFest grew into the Chili Kickoff Cookoff For Make-A-Wish, which debuted in 2013 at Nevin’s Brewing Company in Plainfield and raised more than $21,000 for Make-A-Wish. Three wonderful kids had their wishes granted with that money. Matt and Judy are doubling their efforts for 2014 with the objective of doubling the number of wishes they fulfill. They have recruited more than a dozen friends, colleagues and Make-A-Wish organizers to help them reach this lofty goal. This committee comes from different backgrounds, professions and locations in the Chicagoland area, but they all have the same purpose: to make life better for as many children as possible through Make-A-Wish.
