Rehab center slates sizzling steakout fundraiser
Sep. 23—The Permian Basin Rehab Center is gearing up for the first full-blown Great American Steakout fundraiser in three years at 6 p.m. Sept. 29 at La Hacienda Event Center.
For most of the past 28 years, top cookoff teams have fired up their grills to bring people an incredible steak dinner complete with all the trimmings and to support the center..
"We are so excited," Permian Basin Rehab Center Director of Development Shannon Adams said. "This is a big fundraiser, but it's a lot of fun because it gives us the opportunity to not only raise money to benefit the patients here at the center, but it also gives us the chance to celebrate and have a good time with our donors that are so supportive of the center."
Adams says this will be the first full event to take place since before COVID. In 2020, the event was canceled and last year was a smaller event due to maintaining social distancing.
"This year, we're able to go back to our full-blown format of having all of our guests," Adams said. "We have about 18 cooking teams. Right now, we're expecting between guests and volunteers, I'm expecting 1,000 people. It's just a lot of fun. We're excited."
The Permian Basin Rehab Center helps patients with physical, speech and occupational therapy and audiology services.
Funds raised at this year's event will support the PBRC's Sponsorship Program that benefits the patients.
"We have a goal," Adams said about how much they hope to raise. "We set a goal each year but really, we just want to raise as much as possible. The more we raise, the more therapy sessions we can offer our patients here in the Permian Basin."
Guests will get to enjoy steak dinners, participate in live and silent auctions, and listen to live music by Tom Yankton.
The 18 grilling teams will compete for bragging rights as they cook donated by Bobby and Leona Cox from Rosa's Café.
"The expectation is that they help us grill all the steaks," Adams said. "They also have the opportunity to prepare an appetizer. The steaks go before a judging committee, and we have trophies for first, second and third places. If they want to do an appetizer and send it before the judges, they can do that as well. we also offer first, second and third place for that as well. Bobby Cox Companies with Rosas Café, they donate all of our steaks and then Barn Door provides sides and La Margarita provides appetizers."
Adams says there are no criteria for the cooks.
"We're just looking for volunteers that are willing to come and help make the event a success," Adams said. "Without Rosa's or Bobby Cox's company, we would not be able to pull this off for a thousand people. The criteria is just groups that want to come and help that have a heart for helping patients and children here at the therapy center and want to have a good time with this."
One of the grillers coming back this year is Gemstar President Kevin Gray who will be taking part in this event for the fourth year with a couple of friends.
"Really just cooking is our favorite thing," Gray said. "Being around the other cooks, it's really nice to be around the public and be able to talk. There were a couple of years during COVID where we weren't sure if we were going to do it or not. Now that we're past that, it's nice to interact with everyone again."
Last year, Gray's team tied for first place for the best steak. The two previous occasions, he said they took first for the appetizers.
Gray is hopeful about his team protecting their title this year. He spends a lot of time grilling in Lubbock before Texas Tech football games.
"It's great," Gray said. "It's a good deal. We really enjoy. I do a lot of tailgating at Texas Tech games. I travel back and forth and bring a trailer. It's just fun. I love to do the cooking. I have a partner who helps me, Koy Stribling. Ivan Williams helps us too. We do different things. We all enjoy the cooking part of that deal, and that's why we come out."
Members of the UTPB football team and cheer squads will also be present at the event and help out.
"it's an honor for us to be included," UTPB Head Football Coach Justin Carrigan said. "We've helped serve in any way possible for the last eight years. Our guys have a great time participating and hosting and visiting the guests as they come in. it serves a tremendous cause. It's an honor to be a part of it."
If you go
— What: Permian Basin Rehab Center's Great American Steakout
— When: 6 p.m. Sept. 29
— Where: La Hacienda Event Center
— Where to purchase tickets: tinyurl.com/mr38papx
