The ninth annual Pie in the Face for Chase was held this past Sunday, Sept. 11 at Moguls Sports Pub in Killington, and it was the charity’s biggest success to date. Twenty-four local celebrities took hundreds of pies in the face, raising $30,000 for Chase William Kuehl and the Phelan-McDermid Syndrome Foundation (PMSF). All of the proceeds are split 50/50 between Chase and PMSF. Moguls owner Sal Salmeri and his staff went above and beyond for this event.
The weather was beautiful, which is extra nice when you’re taking pies to your face all day. Moguls had an outdoor shower set up for the pie-ees and that helped the pie class a lot. Being warm and clean leads to even more smiles.
Nearly two dozen local “celebrities” took hundreds of pies to the face last Sunday during an event that raised over $30,000.
Whipped cream pies were sold for $22, green pudding pies were $50 (green is the color of the PMSF and Chase loves pudding), and for the messiest of all, the PMSF Chaser — a pumpkin pie topped with one pound of pudding and whipped cream — could be purchased for $100.
Chase Kuehl was diagnosed with PMS in January 2012 when he was a little over 1 year old. He is one of only 2,500 children diagnosed worldwide. According to scientists, PMSF occurs in 2 to 10 of every 1 million live births.There is no cure, but it is PMSF’s goal to find effective therapies to help those with PMFS and, eventually, a cure.
“Every year I’m blown away by the love and support the community shows Chase and PMSF,” said event co-founder Dave Hoffenberg. “Businesses from Killington, Rutland, Woodstock and Ludlow step up and donate. Really, businesses from all over reach out to help. Please go to our Facebook page (Pie in the Face for Chase) to see videos and photos from the event but more importantly to see all these wonderful businesses. I’m honored that so many people volunteer to get pied and also help us raise much needed money. This year was absolutely incredible. We set a record for the ‘pies from afar,’ which is pies bought online prior to the event. This year there were close to 600 pies from afar. This charity is near and dear to me, I love Chase, love PMSF and love taking pies to my face. This year I took about 85.”
Chase’s dad Rick Kuehl said, “What can one say about such a thing? For me it is from the deepest, most bottom part of my heart: Thank you. I know that I have found my people in the place that they call Killington.”
Harley Ruffle “Lil Homie” pies Brian Hughes , the former snowmaker at Killington, in the face on Sunday, Sept. 11.
Big thanks to the local “celebrities” who volunteered to get pied: Freshman: Tara Kuehl (Rick’s sister-in-law and the highest money raiser for the Freshman), Leo Pond, Max Rayner, Jay “Rosey” Rosenbaum, Emily Tyburski and Jen Wheatley. Sophomores: Brian Hughes and Bernie Kuehl (Rick’s Brother). Juniors: Bill Conn, Brooke Englert and Matt Kopicki. Seniors: Annie Johnson Kuehl (Chase’s Mom and Co-Founder). Post Grads: Kyler Kuehl (Chase’s Brother) and Dave Parnell. Masters: Jared Hall (Highest money raiser over-all), Karena Kuehl (Chase’s sister), Jeremy “Creeper” Rayner and Don Sady. O.P’s (Original Pie-ees): DJ Dave Hoffenberg (so-founder), Rick Kuehl (Chase’s dad and co-founder), Sal Salmeri (owner of Moguls), Kelly Spear and Team Canada’s Peter Whittier. The referee for the event was Jason Evans but he took many pies, too.
This event could not have happened without the help from supportive businesses like Killington Resort, Farrell Distributing, Fiddlehead Brewing Company, Vermont Roofing Company (Roger Louiselle who runs the company took pies to his face for the second year in a row), Boss Office Works (posters), Stewart’s Shops (whipped cream), Public House Pub (pudding), Mendon Mountain Orchards (pumpkin pies) and Initial Ideas (T-shirts). Thanks to Rock 94.5 and the Mountain Times for their help with promoting the event.
Thanks to Brandi Barclay, Merisa Sherman and her Mom Nancy Sherman for running the auction, raffles and pie money. Thanks to volunteers Karen Moran, Kelsey Cruickshank, Anna Rayner and many others for helping with set up. Last but certainly not least, thanks to Matt Trombley and Margo Thompson who not only made the hundreds of pies all day but also took pies for people who couldn’t make it.
For more information visit: pieinthefaceforchase.com. Next year there are big things planned for the 10th annual event. Stay tuned.
