Chicken Broil announces 2019 sponsors

Something new at the 66th annual Manchester Chicken Broil will be the addition of corporate sponsorships, so the broil can give even more money back to the Manchester community.

Although co-chair Michael Tindall says that he received approval almost 10 years ago from the board to pursue this idea, he had felt ambivalent about it. “I never wanted anyone to think that the Chicken Broil is for sale; it never will be,” he explained. “This year, with the help of Cindy Clark at Comerica Bank and Jennifer Wojotowicz of Proper Properties, we have made the plunge and it has exceeded my wildest expectations.”

As of May 31, the deadline for this year, the Broil had collected more than $6,000 in corporate sponsorships from a wide variety of business in the Western Washtenaw County area. The sponsorship levels range in size from $100 to $1000, and each level has a different “perk” for donors.

As always, 100 percent of proceeds and donations from the Chicken Broil are donated back to the community. Everyone involved in the Broil is a volunteer, and every dollar received is invested right back into Manchester by the Chicken Broil committee.

“Throughout the years, we have strived to maintain our heritage and tradition,” Tindall said. “We have never allowed any advertising on the field, from companies, politicians, or any other entities.” That policy will not change. Sponsor boards will be located at the front entrance of the Alumni Field, as well as at the drive-through. Hen Level ($500) and Rooster Level ($1,000) sponsors will receive two or four special T-shirts with their business logo and Chicken Broil sponsorship designation. Eventually, in future years, Tindall added, there may be opportunities to have sponsors listed on the chicken boxes at take-out. That is a topic that is still under discussion. In addition, all of the water for this year’s dinners has been donated by sponsors, which significantly reduces the Broil’s expenses.

“This project has gone over really well for the first year, and I’m very impressed,” Tindall concluded. “The more money we raise, the more we are able to give back to the community.”

Last year’s Chicken Broil donated funding to help the FFA Club at Manchester Community Schools build a new barn, that will be located near the greenhouse on the junior/senior high school grounds.

This year’s corporate sponsors, according to the Chicken Broil’s Facebook page, include: Advanced Industries, American 1 Credit Union, Bollinger Sanitation and Excavating, CEI Composite Materials, Chelsea Lumber Co., Comerica Bank, Donnellon State Farm Insurance Agency, Express Way Inc., Golling Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Chelsea, LaRock Dental, Manchester Marathon, Manchester True Value, Old National Bank, Polly’s, R.D. Kleinschmidt, and Sutton Insurance Agency.

The Chicken Broil thanks the community for its ongoing support! See you on The Third Thursday in July (July 18), starting at 4 pm. Meal prices remain the same–$9 pre-sale, and $10 at the gate.

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.