A Thanksgiving-week tradition will return on Saturday, Nov. 29, when Partners of Delta, Montrose and Ouray hosts its 17th annual Chili Bowl — an event organizers call both a fundraiser and a community gathering built around art, flavor and youth mentoring.
The Chili Bowl fundraiser, scheduled to take place at the Temple has grown steadily since its beginnings nearly two decades ago. As Lissette Riviere, donor relations & recruitment manager, explained, “It is our 17th annual. Chili Bowl. It started…around the Corner Gallery 17 years ago.”
In those early days, the event featured about six chilis. This year, organizers expect 24 different chili entries, from classic red and green to vegetarian, unique and everything in between.
“Right now I think I’m up to 24 chilies,” Riviere said, noting that the growth has been organic. “A lot of people are repeat customers…Some people come to the event and they’re like, ‘Oh, I want to put my chili in next year.’”
The creativity is part of the appeal. Some cooks push the boundaries each year. One chili chef is contributing to the “unique” category in his choice of meat.
“He’s doing a bear and a yak this year,” Riviere said.
Last year, the unique category included ostrich and lamb.
Guests taste every chili and vote for their favorites across several categories — best red, best green, best vegetarian, most unique and best overall.
Winners take home the now-celebrated Golden Ladle.
“A few years ago we started with the now coveted Golden Ladle Award…for the best chili,” staff said.
But while the chili is the star, the bowls are what make the Chili Bowl stand out. Each $25 ticket includes a handcrafted vessel — a bowl, cup or mug — made by local artists and by youth who take part in Partners’ art mentoring program.
“Some of the bowls are actually made by our kids…some are hand thrown, some are hand painted,” Riviere explained. “I probably have over 300 to choose from.”
The art component is intentional: the event helps fund art supplies, art activities and special experiences for youth in the program, including a recent trip to the Moab Red Rock Art Festival.
The art mentoring program serves 25–30 youth across the three-county region. Staff said the program matches “creative adults with kids that really want to pursue arts at like a higher level,” including those building portfolios or exploring potential careers.
“When they win ribbons or people buy their artwork…you can’t buy that kind of self-esteem,” Riviere said. “People are listening to them talk about their work, and it gives them value.”
A casual event, not a formal one
Though it’s one of Partners’ most visible events, Chili Bowl isn’t designed to be a black-tie fundraiser.
“We don’t want to be an organization that does a gala, but this is like a casual gala,” said Curtis Hearst, executive director for Partners.
The event lands on the Saturday after Thanksgiving — a perfect time, organizers noted, because “families are in town for Thanksgiving…they’re sick of leftovers on Saturday.”
The event also includes a youth art expo, pieces available for purchase, and a photo booth. Doors open at 11 a.m., and according to Riviere “At 11 o’clock there’s a line out the door.”
Tickets: Skip the line
Tickets are $25, which organizers call a bargain considering the art involved.
“It’s only 25 bucks…And you keep your bowl. And to go pay the bowl at Amazing Glaze, you’re going to pay that much if not more for the bowl,” Riviere noted.
Pre-paid tickets are encouraged. “People can prepay for tickets online…walk-ins are welcome, but the line can be long,” staff explained.
Partners continues to grow its mentoring reach
While the Chili Bowl fundraiser supports the art program, Partners’ core work remains one-to-one mentoring. The organization is now in its 39th year, serving youth ages 6 to 17 through community-based and school-based mentoring.
“Our mission is one to one mentoring…a very strong protective factor for kids in the community,” Hearst said. “We’ve blown past the numbers previous to the pandemic…In the past year we had 86 matches.”
There is always a waitlist. “In Montrose right now, we’ve got probably 18 kids waiting for a mentor…probably double that in all three counties.”
Male mentors are especially needed. Mentoring takes about 12 hours a month on average — typically simple activities like grabbing a meal, visiting the rec center or sharing hobbies.
“Being a mentor is not like…it doesn’t take any special skills,” Hearst said said. “We take care of a lot of the training.”
The art mentoring program itself was born from older youth shaping their own needs. “Our teenagers didn’t want to hang out with an adult…so our teen advisory board…actually came up with the art partner program,” staff said.
That blend of creativity, connection and community is what organizers say makes Chili Bowl special — not just for Partners, but for the region.
“It’s just a great activity. It’s a great event for families,” Riviere said.
Justin Tubbs is the Montrose Business Times editor. He can be reached by email at [email protected] or by phone at 970-765-0915 or mobile at 254-246-2260.
