The check presentation ceremony for the 13th annual King of the Wing contest was held on Wednesday at the Nana Baby Children’s Home (NBH) on St. Thomas. The competition’s organizers, Alpine and White Bay Group, proudly announced the donation amount for this year’s event, held on June 8. They presented a check for $139,059 to Executive Director Darian Hairston and her dedicated NBH staff.
The King of the Wing contest, a beloved chicken wing cook-off, takes place annually at Magens Bay Beach. This year, special guests, R. City, a dynamic St. Thomas-born musical duo, personally crowned the winners and entertained the crowd with a live performance, according to a press release.
Returning as a judge was Chef Taj, the KOW 2019 winner, who joined fellow judges, including content creator and social media influencer @MisoHungrry, Janeisha John from the Zeus Network, Chef Sunil Sharma, and Chef Cory Dezendorf, the KOW 2022 winner, the press release stated.
Teams of top local restaurants, businesses, organizations, and avid chicken wing enthusiasts showcased an impressive array of delicious wings to support a worthy cause. Deloitte conducted a thorough audit of the contest. “Nomads Bar & Grille” claimed victory in the Restaurant Division, while “Electric Factory Energy” secured both the Best Overall Wing and the top prize in the Non-Restaurant Division, the release stated.
More than just a culinary competition, King of the Wing stands out as a vital fundraising event for local charities. This year, all proceeds went to the Nana Baby Children’s Home (NBH), a 501(c) (3) organization dedicated to providing shelter for foster children in the U.S. Virgin Islands, it said.
“King of the Wing highlights and celebrates the culinary culture of the Virgin Islands community. We enjoy organizing an event that continues to increase its charitable impact every year,” remarked Charles Kim, managing partner of Alpine. “Our chosen charitable beneficiary receives 100% of the profits from KOW,” he added.
Since its inception in 2010, King of the Wing has successfully raised over $922,682 for local nonprofits. KOW 2024 surpassed expectations, drawing thousands of attendees, featuring 36 participating teams, and generating $139,059 for the Nana Baby Home, the release stated.
For inquiries, please contact Vernon Araujo at 340-714-2020, email kingofthewingvi@gmail.com, or visit www.kowvi.com.
Join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, or X. To learn more about the Nana Baby Home, visit their website at https://nanababyhome.com/.
