More than a dozen people stood excitedly in the V.I. Children’s Museum surrounding a large check. The check was from the King of the Wing competition held this year in June at Magens Bay. It was a fundraiser for the V.I. Children’s Museum and raised $105,281.40. Major sponsors of the 2022 King of the Wing Competition included Alpine Securities, White Bay Group, and the V.I. Department of Tourism.
“It’s amazing, much needed! Thank you again to Alpine, the registrants, the sponsors, and the people who came and enjoyed wings. Thank you so much for your support,” said Executive Director of the V.I. Children’s Museum Chantel Hoheb.
The $105,281.40 check is a new record raised from a single King of the Wing Competition event. Hoheb said there was also a record-breaking number of people in attendance and a special guest performance by a Grammy Award-winning rapper, actor, and record producer.
“I think there were eight to 10,000 people there. And can we remember Method Man? What! It was insane, it was absolutely insane,” Hoheb said excitedly, describing the crowd that packed the stage during the Wu-Tang Clan member’s performance.
The V.I. Children’s Museum is a 501(c)3 recognized organization. Its website shares its mission statement, which is “To bring children and families together in an interactive educational space where dynamic play inspires a passion for learning.”
“The Children’s Museum does a great job here in the community and we’re really, really happy to put on this event and to be able to offer these funds when they absolutely need it. It’s been a great experience, and we look forward to the next event,” said Vernon Araujo, director of Philanthropy and Community Relations for Alpine Securities.
“It’s really amazing, it’s awesome to be part of the island’s future. And when you support the children’s intellectual curiosity, you know you’re setting them on the right path,” said Elli Ausubel of White Bay group.
The 2022 King of the Wing Restaurant Division winner travels to compete in the 2022 National Buffalo Chicken Wing Festival Competition in Buffalo, N.Y., during Labor Day weekend. This year Chef Cory Baker of Barefoot Buddha won the King of the Wing Restaurant Division on St. Thomas and took second place for “Media Best in Show” at the national competition. Travel and hotel accommodations to Buffalo were made possible through the King of the Wing Competition on St. Thomas and the V.I. Department of Tourism.
“King of the Wing is a great community event. When we take the teams that win to Buffalo, then we get to expose the USVI to thousands of people, which is a wonderful event for us to market our destination to the Canadian border and the U.S.,” said Assistant Commissioner of Tourism Alani Henneman-Todman.
Hoheb said the money raised from the King of the Wing event is crucial and will help support their programs, use of space, operations and much more. She’s grateful for the community’s support of the museum, which helps them support the community.
“It’s going to help us pay rent, it’s going to help us pay our staff. Hopefully, we’ll have another community event shortly and look out for gifts from Santa. This is going to go far. But please don’t stop supporting,” Hoheb said.
