First Woman to Win “Great Balls of Fire” Toughest Tongue Benefit is Mackenzie Stewart

Portland, January 26th, 2015. For the first time the Great Balls of Fire Toughest Tongue belongs to a woman. Mackenzie Stewart ate a record 37 great balls of fire. Crowds gathered at Salvador Molly’s in Southwest Portland for an eating contest that tests the tolerance for spicy food, while raising money for HEAT Oregon, a nonprofit which helps low-income families pay their heating bills. Salvador Molly’s holds its ‘Toughest Tongue’ contest every year. The goal is to see who can eat the most of the restaurant’s ‘Great Balls of Fire,’ which its menu lists as “habanero cheese fritters.” The restaurant takes donations and has raised $60,000 for HEAT Oregon. (Photo credit, Jeremy Cropf from Salvador Molly’s.)

 

From HEAT Oregon:

Our Mission Statement

HEAT Oregon: Gifting Warmth and Power to Oregonians Facing Hardships

What is HEAT Oregon?

It is estimated that nearly 1 in 4 Oregon families may not have the money to pay for heat or keep the lights on when needed most. HEAT Oregon is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1989 to help Oregonians and hard-working families keep those vital utilities on during unforeseen emergency situations.

At HEAT Oregon, we are people just like you who want to ensure area families are safe and warm in their own home. Together, we are neighbors helping neighbors, providing warmth and kindness through heartfelt donations.

Your Donation Stays In Your Community

At HEAT Oregon, we work with 32 local social service and community organizations throughout Oregon that help us determine if a family is eligible for assistance. We then use donated funds from those comunities to help those in need pay their utility and heating bills.

As careful stewards of your donation, 90 cents of every dollar go directly to help qualifying households in your community pay their heat and electric bills. Charity Navigator, the Internet’s best guide to intelligent giving, awarded HEAT Oregon its highest 4-star rating for its accountabilty and transparency. It’s all thanks to the dedication of our board of directors, focused staff, and your kindness.

Join Us In Gifting Warmth and Power

Part of our continuing mission is to work with our network to provide Oregonian households facing harships with the tools they need for self-reliance via energy conservation education and energy resources. With their dedication, we are helping more of our neighbors be self sufficient.

Give to HEAT Oregon

No one is immune to emergencies and hardships. Each year thousands of Oregon families find themselves in need of temporary assistance to weather the long winter months. If you have the means, please donate today to help ensure that parents and their children, seniors and people with disabilities do not go without basic light and power.