Woody’s Bar-B-Q® Celebrates 33 Years of Dirty Hands While Supporting Healing Hands

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - July 19, 2013 - PRLog -- On Saturday, July 27, popular Florida-based national food chain, Woody’s Bar-B-Q will commemorate 33 years of serving up authentic Southern barbecue by inviting guests to make “total pigs” of themselves. The sloppy celebration begins at 12 p.m.* at participating locations with a Spare Rib Eating Contest as hundreds of ravenous rivals compete to see who can devour the most slow-smoked spare ribs slathered in Woody’s famous original bar-b-q sauce within a 10-minute time span. Following the contest, Woody’s flagship restaurant – located at 1638 University Boulevard in Jacksonville – will play host to a VIP party until 2 p.m., from which all of the proceeds will benefit an extraordinary non-profit organization called Healing Hands.

More commonly known as the First Coast Child Protection Team, Healing Hands is a local organization comprised of physicians, psychologists, nurses and other medical professionals who diagnose cases of childhood physical and sexual abuse in Northeast Florida. The VIP party is open to everyone who wishes to make a minimum donation of $10 per person – although larger donations will be accepted and much appreciated. Children 10 and under will be admitted for free. The party will include heavy hors d’oeuvres, a celebratory glass of champagne, soda, cake, live entertainment, and an appearance by Jacksonville Jaguars mascot, Jaxson De Ville. Attendees will have an opportunity to take part in a raffle for great prizes and bid on a slew of special items and services from local businesses in a Silent Auction.

“Our Spare Rib Eating Contest has quickly become a favorite event among our Florida fanbase each summer,” explains Woody’s Bar-B-Q co-founder, Yolanda Mills-Mawman. “We are so pleased to have created an extended event to benefit such a worthy organization in the First Coast Child Protection Team. The money we raise will help support their efforts in fostering awareness about child abuse and neglect, and fund their programs geared toward intervention, treatment and – ultimately – prevention of child abuse toward Florida’s most innocent victims. We couldn’t dream of a better way to celebrate 33 wonderful years than by giving back to the community that has so graciously given us so much, and are extremely grateful to all of the businesses who donated items and services so generously to the raffle and Silent Auction. We predict that this will be a very special event for all involved.”

“We’ve no doubt that there will be quite a few dirty hands following our Spare Rib Eating contest,” says Mills-Mawman. “We invite patrons to attend this fun annual celebration of Woody’s anniversary – either as a spectator or as a contestant. If they have an opportunity to stop by our University location in Jacksonville – we hope they will consider making a donation to Healing Hands and attending our VIP Party. From dirty hands to Healing Hands – it’s a truly great way to spend a Saturday!”

Spare Rib Eating Contest winners will be crowned at all of the participating Florida locations listed below. Each winner will receive a coveted $100 “Q Card” gift card. There is no fee to participate and all contestants will receive a commemorative “I’m a Total Pig!” t-shirt.

Argyle Forest – 8540 Argyle Forest Boulevard

Fernandina – 474323 East State Road 200

Flagler/Palm Coast – 99 Flagler Plaza Drive

Holly Hill – 1593 North Nova Road

Jacksonville – 1638 University Boulevard

Macclenny – 1482 South 6th Street

Melbourne – 2227 West New Haven Avenue

Miami – 16367 SW 88th Street

Palatka – 110 South State Road 19

Sebastian – 13600 US Highway 1, Suite 18

For the very first time, the Spare Rib Eating Contest will hop the Florida border and be celebrated at one of Woody’s newest locations:  4351 South Harrison in Ogden, Utah. Having just opened their doors in December 2012, the franchisees for this western installment are excited to celebrate Woody’s anniversary alongside their Florida counterparts. The Ogden Spare Rib Eating Contest is slated to take place on Saturday, August 17 at noon.

*Start times for the Spare Rib Eating Contest may vary slightly from one location to the next. Interested parties should call their nearest location to confirm time of contest.

About Woody’s Bar-B-Q®:After opening their first Woody’s Bar-B-Q in 1980, partners Woody Mills and Yolanda Mills-Mawman have spent the past three decades setting the “bar” higher for great Southern Bar-B-Q. From the humble beginnings of just one location in Jacksonville, Florida, a shared passion for Bar-B-Q,  and a dog-eared collection of recipes, Mills and Mawman have grown the Woody’s Bar-B-Q brand to locations reaching from the Deep South where Bar-B-Q is king to the Northeast and Western fronts. Perhaps best known for their legendary melt-in-your-mouth slow-smoked Signature Baby Back Ribs, Woody’s has also built quite a following among patrons with their secret recipe Bar-B-Q sauces and meats, as well as their freshly prepared side dishes. For more information and a list of locations, visit http://www.woodys.com. To learn more about becoming a Woody’s Bar-B-Q franchisee, visit http://www.woodys.com/franchise/.