Perry Chamber announces the 2024 Grand Finale Duo; Radio Pie Auction set for April 3
The third round of the Big Boom Bracket Battle raised a total of $936.05 for the Perry Chamber of Commerce’s annual fireworks drive for the community’s Fourth of July fireworks show, bringing total fundraising efforts now to $4,755.10 – a quarter of the total annual goal. Collected donations over the past week determined the winners of the Firecracker 4 to now move on to the Grand Finale Duo, which coincides with the Radio Pie Auction on Wednesday, April 3.
“This past round was pretty slow in the beginning, but got exciting towards the end with last minute donations,” said Lynsi Pasutti, Executive Director of the Perry Chamber of Commerce. “All four contestants had brought in great donations in the previous two rounds, so it was anyone’s guess as to who the final two would be.”
The Grand Finale Duo for the final round of the Big Boom Bracket Battle is Alex Lott of the Perry Police Department and Ivette Drahos of The Lazy Goose Boba Tea and Ice Cream. #1 Alex Lott beat out #4 Jackson VanKirk of Progressive Foundry and #7 Ivette Drahos beat out #11 Jayde Fellom of Blonde Sisters Boutique.
“One of these two will get a pie in their face next week,” Pasutti added, “and the best part of it all is that regardless of who wins, the whole community benefits from the contest with a great fireworks show in July!”
Donations for the final round of the contest will be accepted now through 11 a.m. on Tuesday, April 2. Just as before, online donations may be submitted at givebutter.com/2024BBBB2 and in-person donations will be collected at the McCreary Center (1800 Pattee Street), Ben’s Five & Dime (1221 2nd Street). Donations may also be delivered to the Perry Chamber of Commerce at 1124 Willis Avenue or mailed to PO Box 472, Perry, IA 50220.
Then, the Radio Pie Auction will take place the next day – starting at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, April 3 – on-air on KDLS Raccoon Valley Radio 99.7 FM or AM 1310, and livestreamed on the Perry Chamber’s Facebook page. Last year’s 24 “sweet” donations together brought in $8,725. New this year, the honor of delivering the pie-in-the-face to the winner of the Big Boom Bracket Battle will be auctioned off during the Radio Pie Auction. Those interested in bidding should tune in and call the radio station at (515)465-5357 to place their bid.
“With the Chamber’s Annual Dinner not until April 30 this year, we decided it’d be best to change things up a bit this year with the Big Boom Bracket Battle,” Pasutti stated. “We will still finish the contest at the same time as before, but it seemed like a great fit to auction off the honor of delivering the grand prize with the Radio Pie Auction. The actual finale date and time will be determined then, but we will plan to do a Facebook live to catch the action like we have before.”
The Radio Pie Auction brings together the best bakers in town, all donating freshly baked pies, cakes, cheesecakes or other desserts to be auctioned off to support the fireworks drive. The live auction takes place at the radio station – streamed on-air and Facebook, complete with a ‘pie cam’ view of auction items – with auctioneer Tom Burkgren and emcee Shawn Kenney and generous support from Raccoon Valley Radio.
The Big Boom Bracket Battle is a bracket-style contest, matching up community members in four weeks of ‘head-to-head’ contests for the sake of fundraising for Perry’s Fourth of July fireworks display. After the initial Elimination Round on Facebook, advancement in the bracket is determined by donations from the community.
For more information and to follow along on with the progress of the Big Boom Bracket Battle, visit PerryIAChamber.org/Foundation or the Perry Chamber’s Facebook page.. Questions can be directed to the Perry Chamber at PerryChamber@PerryIAChamber.org or (515) 465-4601.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Perry Chamber announces the 2024 Big Boom Bracket Battle Grand Finale Duo
