A neighborhood barbeque for a good cause — that is what Redmond’s Bill the Butcher played host to on Sunday.
The purpose of the event was to raise funds for Experience Talent Camp 4 Kids (ETC4Kids), a youth camp dedicated to discovering kids’ talents.
The community came together to raise $341 to help cover the expenses for at-risk children for the 2012 camp located at the Washington Cathedral in Redmond.
Children who had previously attended the camp starred in Sunday’s The Kids Got Talent Show where karate and singing were some of the top performances.
More than 200 local residents came to enjoy the young talent, sunshine and lamb sliders cooked by chef Liam Spence of Lola Restaurant and Scott Molyneaux, the chef for the Bill the Butcher Redmond store.
“We were trying to come up with a creative solution to help them raise money for their camp and this event seemed perfect,” said Bill the Butcher marketing director Alan Brown.
The camp’s newest development is helping underprivileged kids attend the camp by lowering cost to $5 a child rather than $25 and providing transportation and breakfast for the kids.
Last year no at-risk children attended the camp, so Kristin Qualls, ETC4Kids founder and director, has worked to make it possible for these kids to attend.
The classes taught at etc4kids are designed to discover children’s unique talents. Some of the classes include drama, Tae Kwon Do, basketball, and fine arts. Kids are given the opportunity to learn about themselves and create friendships with other kids.
“The exciting thing about etc4kids summer camps is that they include kids from all walks of life, even children living in homeless shelters or in other at-risk situations,” said Qualls.
This fundraiser is just one of many ways Bill the Bucher has given back to the community. Brown said he uses 60 percent of his marketing budget for charity donations, gift certificates, and steaks for auctions.
One of the largest donation items is a prime rib meal for eight prepared at someone’s home by a Butcher chef. Bill the Butcher also sponsored a 5-year-old slow pitch softball team.
“We look for creative ways to get the word out,” said Brown. “It’s all about being part of the neighborhood.”
