Curry Competition in Spain Raises Money for BLISS

Rich Kurtzman and Kerry Bateman
BLISS Volunteers – August 2005

“Pretty tasty, but you won’t be cumin in first” is just one of the many bad puns flaunted at the “Curry Cook–Off for Charity” we held to raise money for the children of BLISS.

Cook-off for Charity in Spain.

Our experience this summer volunteering in BLISS was too powerful to let slip away simply because we are no longer physically there. Some of the most rewarding experiences involved watching the kids learn when playing games and reading with us, but since the Community Center had just recently opened, there was a shortage of materials – only a couple packs of math flash cards and a smattering of books, for example.

We thought that the best way to continue helping from a distance would be to provide the Community Center with games that future volunteers can use with the kids. Luckily, our friends in Barcelona were eager to contribute in some way after hearing all of our stories from the summer.

So what better way to raise money than by hosting a night “a la Philippines” filled with heaps of food? Rather than a simple get–together, however, we turned the night into a cooking competition complete with too many food puns. I feared throwing a Curry Party would tikka lot of work, but it was surprisingly easy. Each person paid an entrance fee and made a curry. Ten percent of the entrance fee went to buy a small prize for the winner, and the rest constituted the donation to BLISS. After the voting took place, the top chef was na’an other than my friend making her first–ever curry dish. (I’massala–vating right now just thinking about it.)

We collected a total of $120 which will buy books and games to fill the Community Center and further the education of those wonderful kids at BLISS who made such a big impression on us in such a small amount of time.