Increasing Confidence
Providing Knowledge
Building Character

September 2011, Volume 1 Issue 5

Dear Reader,

NEXT WEEK is BBQ Week for Camp Craig Allen!

Yes, the whole final week is dubbed BBQ week for us as we diligently prepare for our Annual BBQ Cook Off Benefit at the Bass Pro Shops in Grapevine, TX.

Our final push is for recruiting BBQ teams, volunteers, solicitation for on-line donations, supplies and all the things needed to make it a true fund-raiser...and then its site prep!
If you haven't put us on your calendar, do so now and JOIN US! You'll certainly see and hear about us on WFAA channel 8 and ESPN radio.

See you next weekend!!

   

5th Annual BBQ Cook-off update- NEXT WEEK!

This is the final push everyone! We are only just DAYS away from our major fundraiser event! 

As 55 amateur BBQ teams roll into North Texas from all over the state; competition is just one of the dynamics to this incredible fundraiser event. The cooks will be competing in the categories of brisket, ribs, chicken,wild game, beans and the new category of desert. This makes for the biggest, Texas-sized Amateur BBQ Cook-off even in the Grapevine Bass Pro Shop’s parking lot! Judges for this event range from retired Dallas Cowboys and Texas Rangers, to local dignitaries of the communities across the Metroplex, including many Fire Department Chief’s. Brett Shipp, from WFAA Channel 8, along with Doug Fortenberry and Bill Kinder are this years emcees and 5 bands will be performing.

Other fun and friendly contests between the BBQ will include: Best Site Decorations, Cleanliest Team, Best Team Spirit, Best Margarita and Best Bloody Mary. The teams compete for the ever coveted “Best Begging” trophy, which is awarded to the team who has raised the most in donations and auction items while also raising awareness directly for Camp Craig Allen. Last year’s winning team, “Tim’s Tailgate BBQ Team” reached their goal of a “three-peat” by nabbing the title for the third year in a row with their donations reaching $29,000. The competition is steep this year as all 55 teams are soliciting for local donations in an unsteady economy. Big Fish BBQ, led by Bryan McLarty came in a strong second with $24,000. Third place went to MeatMiesters who brought in a very respectable $8,000.

All the BBQ teams are encouraged to hold pre-events involving their own neighborhoods, encouraging their family, friends and even their companies to get involved. It’s not over when the teams arrive either, in fact it has just begun! Arriving on site, the BBQ teams will turn in their “pre-event” begging money to have the preliminary totals logged onto a giant tote board. The teams will be given an empty “begging container” and begin competing on-site Saturday to see who can raise the most money the day of the event, getting the public involved sharing their enthusiasm for Camp Craig Allen. Games, contests, raffles, silly stunts and lot more will all be part of the fun! There will be so much to see and do for everyone who walks or rolls through the gates... Fun for the whole family! The public can give donations to their favorite teams online or at any of the BBQ team sites.

Advocacy is at its best at the BBQ with so many disabled folks coming and participating. A wheelchair sports court featuring power wheelchair hockey and manual wheelchair basketball will be some of the sports being played. Some say “build it and they will come” but it is quite the opposite with this event...they are coming to get it built. 

 
Important BBQ contacts:

• Sponsorships, BBQ Teams, or General Questions- dawncruzanfournier@campcraigallen.org  
• BBQ Auction donations- melisaflores@campcaigallen.org 
• Volunteers- cindyknowles@campcraigallen.org

                                   

                                                                            

 

Camp Craig Allen Held its Second Camp Session!

Camp Craig Allen participates in Denton Fire Fighters for MDA Golf Classic. Collaborative groups that help and support Camp Craig Allen need us too!

OurHometownDeal.com is a website that offers up to 90% off goods and services for local businesses in the DFW area. Each week, they feature a local Not-For-Profit that will receive a portion of all vouchers sold. For the week of August 27th- September 8th, that featured Not-For-Profit is Camp Craig Allen! This means that a portion of every voucher sold will go directly towards helping us build a camp!
Simply visit www.OurHometownDeal.com and sign up to get daily deals delivered right to your email. If you see something that interests you, whether it is a 50% off a haircut or 70% off dinner, purchase the voucher and you will be directly benefiting Camp Craig Allen!



With our BBQ fundraiser coming up next week, Camp Craig Allen felt it would be appropriate to use the "Sponsor of the Month" section to thank our BBQ hosts and the other organizations who make our event possible.

A very special thank- you most importantly goes to Advanced Mobility. Advanced Mobility has been supporting Camp Craig Allen since the very beginning. Since their inception in 1986, they have worked tirelessly to ensure that their customers enjoy the freedom that comes with having a vehicle that fits their specific needs. Advanced Mobility also offers a full rental service of adaptive vehicles. Using the services of Advanced Mobility also means supporting Camp Craig Allen. If you or someone you know if in need of mobility equipment, please visit the Advanced Mobility website at www.advancedmobility.net .
Their Austin location is now open!
  
 
We would also like to thank Siddons- Martin Apparatus, a leading fire truck provider. Siddons- Martin and Pierce will be very instrumental in designing our future adaptive playground. Check out all the work they do at www.siddons-martin.com.


Camp Craig Allen would also like to thank United Rehab Services. In 2011, URS came on board with Camp Craig Allen as a major event sponsor. We quickly found that they have the same mentality we do- helping disabled people and treating them like family. Stop by the URS team site at the BBQ Fundraiser and see their new equipment displayed and visit their website at www.united-rehab.net. the more you support URS, the more they can help Camp Craig Allen.


And of course we can't forget to thank our hosts, Bass Pro Shops in Grapevine and Embassy Suites! Thank you for being such great hosts these past 5 years, we couldn't have done it without you!
      

We will be welcoming canine companions to our BBQ event this year to advocate and provide resources for disabled individuals looking for a service dog. They train and provide these highly skilled service dogs free of charge to the recipients. Beth and her group will be on hand with some great information regarding their services.
This is an awesome opportunity to bring our non-profit organizations together to advocate on independence. Many of the furry companions for our Camp Craig Allen friends have come from Canine Companions and we are proud to support each other!
Please check them out at www.cci.org.



Make sure to check out the updates to our on-line calendar. We are partnering with many organizations around town that also work with and advocate for the disabled. Below is a quick look at what is coming up in the next month. Be sure to visit us on-line for more information.

It's BBQ week! September 6th-8th will be pre-event on-sit set up before the big event.

Ms. Wheelchair Texas, Amanda Hall will be featured on Good Morning Texas beginning on September 8th at 8:00 a.m. The show airs on WFAA channel 8 which is the local ABC network for the DFW area. 

September 9th-10th is the 5th Annual BBQ Cook -off! 

Monday, September 12th will be post-event clean-up. 

Let us know of any event you think needs to be on our Camp Craig Allen Calendar! Send an email with the details of the event to info@campcraigallen.org.