IFOCE Events Raise $16,000 for Disaster Relief Efforts

The IFOCE has announced that it will use upcoming eating contest events as a platform to raise money for disaster relief efforts on the Gulf Coast.

The IFOCE and event sponsors will donate money to America's Second Harvest and the American Red Cross, and audience members and participants will be encouraged to donate as well.

So far the effort has raised more than $16,000 through donations by Waffle House Restaurants, Krystal Hamburgers, the National Buffalo Wing Festival, GoldenPalace.com and the IFOCE.

Waffle House Restaurants donated $10,000 to kick off fundraising events at its upcoming weekend event in Atlanta.

The National Buffalo Wing Festival, which occurs in Buffalo on Labor Day Weekend, will run a large-scale fundraising effort. The festival and the IFOCE already have raised more than $3,000 for disaster relief and plan to raise significant additional funds.

Big Brian Subich, who will compete in Buffalo over the weekend, has started a $1 per chicken wing pledge drive and leading an effort among other eaters to raise additional fudning during the weekend.

Krystal Hamburgers is donating $1 for every Krystal hamburger eaten during 2:00 minute preliminary rounds this weekend and Monday's contest at Lookouts Stadium, and GoldenPalace.com is donating as well.

The IFOCE recently launched a $50,000 fundraising campaign, ifoceGIVES, to assist hunger-related charities in the United States and beyond. Proceeds from this fundraising campaign will be dedicated to relief organizations assisting in Hurricane Katrina disaster relief.