Casi Inc

Causes: Philanthropy

Mission: Chili appreciation society international inc's (casi) mission is to promote chili and raise money for charity.

Programs: Other programs:chili appreciation society international, inc (casi) makes grants to local schools, charitable and governmental organizations in the area of the cookoff as the area is a low income community. Casi has an annual business meeting, to which a $1 fee is assessed each cook to help underwrite the cost. The national organization has begun hosting the meeting in lieu of one (or more) of the affiliated pods (chapters). The excess funds raised are moved from the great peppers meeting fund to the general fund after the meeting is conculuded.

chili appreciation society international inc (casi) grants scholarships on a national basis. Currently providing $1,000 per year scholarships to approximately 30 students. At the first board meeting of each fiscal year, the board authorizes the number of scholarships to be granted for the current year. This includes one scholarship for the valedictorian of the terlingua high school, and a specified number of additional scholarships that can be applied for by any high school graduating student. The application form is posted on the casi web site. Applicants must fill out the application and mail it to the scholarship committee chairman. The applications are distributed to all of the committee members, who review them individually, and then rank them in the order in which they believe the scholarships should be granted. The committee chairman then tabulates the results from the committee members and announces the winners.

chili appreciation society international inc (casi) publishes and mails to its members a monthly newspaper that informs the members of upcoming cookoffs, cookoff results, and other happenings in the chili world. The newspaper is also distributed at cookoffs to nonmember contestants, judges and spectators as a way to introduce them to additional chili cooking activities and to see the charitable tally of funds raised. The october edition is larger since it is in the month just ahead of the championship event held at casi's property in west texas. This edition includes information on the cookoff and the surrounding areas.