Sunday, Sept. 15 at 1 p.m.—KILLINGTON—It’s time again to pie local celebrities and raise money for Chase William Kuehl and the Phelan-McDermid Syndrome Foundation (PMSF). Kuehl is one of only 2,500 children worldwide diagnosed with this disease. The prevalence of those with Phelan-McDermid Syndrome is estimated to be between 1 in 25,000 babies born. There is no cure, but it is PMSF’s goal to find effective therapies to help those with PMS, and, eventually, a cure.
Due to the recent sale of Moguls Sports Pub, the 11th annual International Pie in the Face for Chase charity benefit, for the first time ever, will be held at the Summit Lodge in Killington from 1-6 p.m. The organization is thrilled to have a new home since The Summit and owner Emmett O’Dwyer have been long-time supporters of Chase.
Last year, $33,000 was raised, and organizers hope to keep growing that number. Like the past ten years, 100% of the proceeds go to Chase and PMSF, with an equal 50/50 split.
Admission of $10 to get in, which includes a door prize raffle ticket, and there’s many prizes to be won by many, local businesses. Kids are free. Besides the pie-throwing and the door prizes, there will be a silent auction and a teacup raffle. All forms of payment are accepted: Cash, Check, or Credit Card.
For $22 (the disease is a deletion of chromosome 22), participants get to pie one person in the face with a whipped cream pie. For $50, you can pie someone with a green pudding pie. Green is the color of the charity, and pudding is one of Chase’s favorite snacks, plus it’s a lot smellier. For only $100, mere pennies a day, the PMSF Chaser is the best option available. It’s a pumpkin pie topped with pudding and whipped cream. It’s the messiest pie to date and the most fun way you can donate, but any donation is a great thing that will help many children and their families. Pie as many people as you want. The Summit supplies all the ingredients and there will be 22 local celebrities to choose from.
The “celebrity” pie classes this year are:
Freshman: Alex Kuehl (Chase’s Cousin), Emma Jean and Lucas Magoon
Sophomores: Captain Jack Wallace and Leo Pond
Junior: Jen Wheatley
Seniors: Andrew Schain and Brian Hughes
Post Grads: Bill Conn and Matt Kopicki
Masters: Annie Johnson Kuehl (Chase’s mom and Co-founder), Dave Parnell, Don Sady, Jared Hall, Karena Kuehl (Chase’s sister) and Kyler Kuehl (Chase’s brother)
O.P’s (Original Pie-ees): DJ Dave Hoffenberg (Co-founder), Kelly Spear, Rick Kuehl (Chase’s dad and Co-founder), Sal Salmeri, and Team Canada’s Peter Whittier
Referee: Jason Evans (Master Class). He will be taking pies as well. Don’t get a red card, or you might be taking one too.
The O.P.s have been in the event from the beginning. Due to Covid, the event was not held in 2020 but DJ Dave and Peter Whittier took pies on their own, so they are the only two people who have been in it every year for the past 10 years. DJ Dave took pies in the Moguls parking lot and Whittier took pies from his backyard in Canada.
Chase Kuehl was diagnosed with this disease in January 2012 when he was a little over a year old. His mother, Annie Kuehl, said, “We were floored when it happened, but this is our journey now.” Since the disease is so rare, Rick Kuehl said, “This is not the lottery we wanted to win.”
They have their struggles, but they have an amazing loving child in Chase Kuehl. Annie said, “Chase’s life and world are affected by Phelan McDermid Syndrome in so many different ways and there are days that I can’t understand why he has to be one of the 2,500 in the world. But Chase is still Chase … he knows love and gives and receives it freely. He amazes me daily and reminds what life is truly about.”
Co-founder DJ Dave said, “Charity is near and dear to me, and I’m honored that so many people volunteer to get pied over and over and help us raise much needed money. I feel blessed to be a part of such a wonderful community. I love Chase dearly and will go out of my way to raise money for him, and to help the other children affected by it. This is a horrible disease with sadly no cure but your donation will help improve these children’s lives. Last year, I campaigned dressed as a Merman, and took about 125 pies to my face. This year, I’m campaigning dressed as a Pink Flamingo. Thanks to everyone who supports me, and the cause. I can’t wait for this year’s event. I want more pies!”
“We can’t say enough about the people that support Chase and the foundation through this fun filled event. We are so blessed to have so many wonderful people who want to help us provide the best for our little angel. The money raised will go to support the foundation’s efforts to improve the lives of children with PMS around the world as well as The Chase William Kuehl Trust, which will help provide services and support for Chase as he grows,” Rick Kuehl added.
DJ Dave added, “Not only do many of my friends volunteer year in and year out to be pied, but so many businesses in Killington, Bridgewater, Ludlow, Quechee, Rutland and the surrounding towns donate to the silent auction and raffles. We have Golden sponsors that give generously to the event like Killington Resort, Farrell Distributing, Fiddlehead Brewing, Von Trapp Brewing, Vermont Roofing Company and Blue Ridge Real Estate. It amazes me, because nobody tells me ‘No’. Some reach out to me beforehand to make sure they’re a part of it. We especially want to thank these businesses who contribute the main ‘Ingredients’ to the event: Website: JEG Designs; event space: Summit Lodge; T-Shirts: Initial Ideas; Posters: Boss Office Works; pumpkin pies: Mendon Mountain Orchards; pudding: Public House Pub; and Whipped Cream: Stewarts Shops.”
If you want to help out at the event and/or donate to the raffles, email pieinthefaceforchase@gmail.com.
Can’t make the event? Visit pieinthefaceforchase.com where you can buy pies to pie people from afar, then watch it live on Facebook from the page of the same name. If you want to get a taste of the action without being pied, sit in the splash zone — just come prepared!
