The 11th annual International Pie in the Face for Chase was held this past Sunday, Sept. 15, at the Summit Lodge in Killington and it was a huge success. At the event, 22 local celebrities took hundreds of pies in the face and raised $33,000 (matching last year’s record total) for Chase William Kuehl and the Phelan-McDermid Syndrome Foundation (PMSF). All proceeds support the cause, with half going directly to Chase and half to PMSF. There were also three young girls who came from the pool, to buy pies, for themselves.
Phelan-McDermid Syndrome is caused by the lack of chromosome 22, so having 22 participants is significant. The 22 is prevalent in other areas too. 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 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 2,700 children diagnosed worldwide. The prevalence of those with PMS 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.
“I’m blown away by the love and support the community continues to show Chase and PMSF,” said charity co-founder DJ Dave Hoffenberg.
Businesses from Killington, Rutland, Woodstock, Ludlow, and even out to Manchester and Stowe, stepped up to donate. Visit the “Pie in the Face” Facebook page to see videos and photos from the event, but more importantly to see all these wonderful businesses.
The pie class this year were freshman: Alex Kuehl (Chase’s Cousin), Emma Jean and Lucas Magoon; Sophomores: Captain Jack Wallace (Emma Barclay took his pies) and Leo Pond; Junior: Jen Wheatley; Seniors: Andrew Schain and Brian Hughes; Post Grads: Bill Conn and Matt Kopicki (Kat Oropallo took his pies); 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.
Hoffenberg added, “This 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 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 year Hoffenberg himself raised a little over $8,200 and took 164 pies to the face, shattering his 2023 record of $6,900. For that feat, he gets a two-night stay at the Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe. This was his third “Golden Trapp Trophy,” the award given to the highest money raiser (he previously won in 2019 and 2023).
Hoffenberg said, “Last year I campaigned dressed as a Merman, I knew I needed to raise the bar, so this year I campaigned as a Pink Flamingo. I had a lot of fun with it, flamingling at Rutland’s Main Street Park, Mendon Mountain Orchards, Killington and Wellfleet on the Cape. I received a lot of compliments on this costume, it did the trick since I soared over my goal of $7500.”
Rutland’s Jared Hall came in second raising close to $5,000, his personal best by a couple grand. This charity started in 2014 with a small event at Moguls Sports Pub, raising $1,200.
“We’re very proud to see how far we’ve come,” said Hoffenberg.
“Due to Moguls being sold, we needed a new spot,” Hoffenberg explained. “Emmett stepped up, and we could not be happier with how it turned out. We were nervous about the venue change but everyone at the Summit on Sunday was there for the event. The grounds are beautiful, they had two bars running, both with food and drink, and the staff went above and beyond. An added bonus was the heated saltwater pool that many people used, but nobody went in with pie on!”
The 12th annual event is slated for Sept. 14, 2025. Stay tuned.
For more information visit: pieinthefaceforchase.com.
Courtesy Dave Hoffenberg
