Belleville Scottish Rite going hog wild for humane society, Southern Illinois Charities
Pucker up, Buttercup! Belleville’s first ever “Kiss the Pig” fundraiser is underway and contestants are running hog wild soliciting donations.
“Six participants are raising money for charity,” explained the fundraiser’s organizer and Scottish Rite Commander Greg Giedeman. “Whoever collects the most money has to kiss a pig during the Belleville Oktoberfest on September 16th.”
All donations will benefit the Scottish Rite of Southern Illinois Charities and The Belleville Area Humane Society.
A tri-colored KuneKune piglet from Wild Blooms and Boots Farms in Waterloo is the swine at the center of the event.
“Right now, she’s not any bigger than a gallon of milk,” said the piglet’s owner, Jessica Hoock. “She is so sweet. She loves belly rubs. She hasn’t been given a name yet. I plan to give her a bath before the big day.”
Fundraiser participants include St. Clair County Clerk Tom Holbrook, Belleville Area Humane Society President Shelly Korves, Belleville Mayor Patty Gregory, Belleville Police Chief Matt Eiskant, Scottish Rite Commander Greg Giedeman and past Shriners Potentate David Casson.
For the next several days, participants will be busy collecting donations, through cash, checks, Facebook/Mightycause and Venmo.
Giedeman’s wife, Stephanie, created personalized, money collection pig jugs for each of the contestants. She’s also making pig-eared headbands – which will be sold along with fundraising T-shirts emblazoned with the saying “Get Piggy With it!”
“We’re not going to know who the winner is till that afternoon,” Giedeman said. “We want to announce it and have a little showmanship to it.”
The momentum is building, along with the fun.
“The mayor is really excited about it,” Giedeman said, proudly. “I was afraid to ask her but she’s been great.”
So has St. Clair County Tom Holbrook, who enjoys giving back to his community.
“I’m looking forward to helping a lot of kittens and puppies,” he said, “and also helping out the children.” The Scottish Rite Charities benefits the Southern Illinois Dyslexia Center.
Probably no one is more excited about the prospect of kissing a pig than BAHS board president Shelly Korves.
“I’m competitive and I’m happy to raise money for a good cause,” Korves said. “But honestly, I’m kissing the pig either way. Win or lose, they’ll have to pry it out of my hands.”
The winner of the pig kissing fundraiser will be announced at 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16, at the corner of North 1st and West “A” streets in Belleville, following the Weiner Dog Race. Prior to the event, a fundraising Pig Kissing Booth will be open to the public, starting at 1 p.m.
Donations can be mailed to the Scottish Rite of Southern Illinois, 225 E. A Street, Belleville, IL 62220. Please put the name of your favorite contestant on the memo line.
