BAY MINETTE — Lace up your running shoes and don’t forget to grab a spoon.

The members of the Bay Minette Rotary Club and Heritage Junior Women’s Club (HJWC) are excited to join together to host the HJWC Annual Chili Cook-Off and the Rotary Club 5K-1 Mile Fun Run on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013 at Bay Minette Kid’s Park. The festivities kick off at 9 a.m. with a 5K run.

These two Civic organizations have joined forces to raise funds for the North Baldwin Coalition for Excellence in Education (NBCEE). The NBCEE was founded to support the nine schools in the north Baldwin feeder pattern area. The nine schools include; Baldwin County High School, Bay Minette Middle School, Bay Minette Intermediate, Bay Minette Elementary, Delta Elementary, Pine Grove Elementary, Perdido Elementary, Stapleton Elementary and the North Baldwin Center for Technology.

“We award teacher grants each year and have given out more than $40,000 since we first formed in 2008. Last year, we gave out $12,000 in grants. Teachers complete a grant application and those are judged, each school gets at least one $500 grant and the remainder of funds are disbursed based on the judges’ scores,” according to Tina Covington, President of NBCEE. Covington went on to say that the NBCEE annually recognizes the teachers of the year selected by the member schools.

This year, will be the third annual Summer Enrichment Camp. Last year, 12 different week-long camps were offered, ranging from art, to music, to engineering, to computer camps. Hundreds of children from all over Baldwin County took part in these camps, which were held to offer a chance for students to take part in summer activities that enrich the mind and spirit, which is part of the organization’s goals

“We are completing plans for this year's installment,” said Covington. “These camps will include the return the art camps and Lego engineering, and the introduction of new camps such as drama and weird science, among others.”

Last year more than 150 runners took part in the 5K and 1 mile Fun Run. Area schools provided entertainment and this year is shaping up to be the same. Tickets for the Chili Cook-Off are $5 and can be purchased from the Heritage Junior Women’s Club or the North Baldwin Chamber of Commerce.

Chamber Director, Rebecca McMillan Cheshire summed the event up nicely: “The way that the Rotary Club and the Heritage Junior Women’s Club work in partnership to plan and deliver this annual event illustrates the community spirit on which our town prides itself. The more events we have like this, the more opportunities we have to come together and share our pride and give to a good cause. I only wish someone would make some vegetarian chili!”

If you would like more information on this event you can contact Karmen Still at (251) 421-3073 or email Karmen@sfmco.com