The Marion Chamber of Commerce will be celebrating its mission, members and community at its 103rd annual awards celebration on Friday, January 19, 2024, at The Pavilion in Marion. The program will feature presentations by the Chamber, elected officials, and 2023 award winners.

One of the awards that will be given during the event is the Award of Excellence, which recognizes a Chamber member who has made significant contributions to the community through the Marion Chamber of Commerce. This person demonstrates personal and professional leadership in the community.

Southern Illinois

The Southern Illinois Chili-Cook Off started with its inaugural event in November of 2009. Gail Barger, Mollie Puckett and Megan Zeller decided they wanted to create an event that would support our community. The first event started in the parking lot of Molly’s Bar and Grill with only a handful of teams, raising less than $4,000. The first few years, the contributions to the event supported research for the American Cancer Society. After the first year, one of the judges decided he wanted a hands-on role so, David Fry became the next official committee member of the Chili Cook-Off.

Fast forwarding a few years, the Southern Illinois Chili Cook-Off moved to the Marion Elks lodge. The committee and participation grew exponentially, as did the money raised for our charities. When the Cook-Off changed locations, the charities that they have supported did as well.

The Southern Illinois Chili Cook-Off now hosts more than 40 chili teams, 14 Blood Mary contestants, hundreds of volunteers, numerous local businesses that sponsor/donate silent auction items, and thousands of people who come through to taste contestant’s chili. In the past fourteen years, the Chili Cook-Off has raised more than $300,000 to support the following charities:

• The Lighthouse Shelter – provides shelter for families in our community
• The Williamson County Heartland Rotary – provides iPads to children with special needs
• Cozy Kids – a Marion Elks charity that provides coats for children
• The Fowler-Bonan Foundation – provides clothing for children

This event is held every year at the Marion Elks on the 1^st Saturday in November. There are many activities going on that day which includes the chili competition, Bloody Mary contest, 50/50 raffle, silent auction, and live DJ donated each year by Music in Motion.

This would never have been accomplished without the participation of the committee, the judges or the dedication of the community and the Marion Elks Lodge. The committee consists of Gail Barger, Megan Zeller, David Fry, Chrystal Davis, Julie Campbell, Amber Phillips, Tyler Young, Robert Rongey, Tatia Strang, Shange Orange and Greg Gamble.

Past committee members include: Molly Puckett, Lyndzey Barger, Lisa Laird and Jamie Zeller-Taylor.

The Southern Illinois Chili Cook-Off is a 501(c)3 charitable organization.

Being nominated is a great privilege to this committee. A lot of hard work goes into planning this event, and not just by the committee. This event has so many moving parts that it would never be accomplished by just us. This event takes an entire community to volunteer, show up, make chili and donate to make it work. This award is not just an honor to the planners, it is an honor for our entire community for coming together, year after year, to make this event what it is.

Patricia Odom

Haven house is a family owned, nonprofit assisted living home established in 2019 in Marion IL. Because many veterans struggle with homelessness, substance abuse, PTSD, and other unique problems, the house is set up to meet the specific needs and care of veterans. Haven House was founded by Patricia and James Odom with the help of their son Zachary Brown. Haven house and their team provide veterans with 24 hour care in a safe and secure environment, while providing residents with personal space within a family style environment. They provide everyone with shelter, meals, clothing, travel to and from appointments, and employment support. The home also has a bus that provides the opportunity for veterans to go on special outings such as shopping trips, field trips, and out to eat.

Haven house has been a lifelong dream of Patricia. She was raised with family in the service and to respect those who have served and sacrificed for our freedom, which sparked her passion to open up a home for veterans.

Eventually she was able to secure the down payment for the haven house after selling her very own Harley-Davidson motorcycle and many other assets. The renovation of Haven House was done through social networking within our community. For instance, WSIL aired a program asking the community for help on renovation. The Illinois Prison Project helped with the demolition of the inside of house and outside yardwork on the property acreage. Bulldog trash supplied large dumpsters for the demolition and renovation period. Also the Home Depot gave Haven house a $20,000 grant for the installation of new carpet and flooring as well as for supplies such as paint and appliances. Plumbers and Pipe Fitters Local 551 helped clear out the drains as well as install new fixtures throughout the house. Even Illinois Senator Dale Fowler got involved to help repaint Haven House.

We are beyond honored to receive such a prestigious award that recognizes so many good deeds throughout our community. The goal of Haven House has always been to improve the standard of living for our veterans and to help meet a visible need that has emerged in our society. Receiving this award helps to prove that we are beginning to achieve this goal. Never did we imagine Haven House would grow to become what it is today. Because we recognize there are so many others supporting our community as well, it is extremely humbling to be honored in this manner. Through the support of our community, our vision has become a reality. My husband, Tom, my son Zach, the Haven House team, and myself would like to personally thank the Marion Chamber of Commerce for this award.