Boiling N' Bragging brings another big crowd to Crestline

Boiling N’ Bragging, an annual benefit for the Children’s of Alabama Critical Care Transport program, is billed as “the ultimate football season kick-off tailgate party.”

And the party returned for the ninth year to the parking lot near Otey’s Tavern in Crestline on the evening of Saturday, Aug. 19.

A crowd of at least 250-300 people turned out to meet other fans, talk about college football, hear live music and eat grilled burgers and hot dogs and a low-country shrimp boil.

“Alumni from different schools participate at the event and treat it as a pre-season kickoff party,” said Shelly McCarty, community development coordinator at Children’s of Alabama.

And they help support a good cause. The transport team at Children’s includes nurses and respiratory therapists and transports more than 1,000 children each annually, according to childrensal.org.

The fundraiser was created by Rotary International District 6860, one of the sponsors. The other sponsors are Otey’s, Children’s and Charter Spectrum.

The Rotary Club has raised about $700,000 in the first eight years of Boiling N’ Bragging to help support the Critical Care Transport program, according to Sue Mitchell, district governor for Rotary International District 6860.

“We want to get to a million dollars,” Mitchell said at the event. “That’s our goal. But that won’t stop us. We will continue.”

There were tents set up at Boiling N’ Bragging for all 12 SEC schools, including The University of Alabama and Auburn University, as well as UAB, Samford University, Troy State University and others.

Mitchell said it is gratifying to help children get the care they need. “Just to see these children in the dire straits they are in, you can’t help but want to help them,” she said. “Your heart goes out to them.”

Randy Ham, one of the fans staffing the Auburn tent, said it was fun to help support the transport program, especially since he has four grandchildren.

“Children’s does a great job with anything they do, and the transport program is no exception,” Ham said.

Alabama fans and Vestavia Hills residents Jeff and Andrea Florio attended the event with their daughter, Emily Grace, after an invitation from a Rotary member.

They were enjoying the people and the food, according to Jeff Florio. “We’ve having a blast,” Jeff Florio said.

Emily said that she enjoyed “getting (her) picture made with Big Al,” referring to the University of Alabama mascot.

Eric Jack, dean of the UAB Collat School of Business, said he is “very excited” to see the return of Blazer football.

“I think it’s good for UAB, and its good for the city of Birmingham, and it’s good for our students,” Jack said. “It’s a way for them to cheer and have a life beyond just academics. It’s really great to see what the Birmingham business community has to support football.”

Jack’s wife, Ave, was impressed by the scale of the Boiling N Bragging event. “It’s awesome,” she said. “I can’t believe all the people that are here.”

The event also featured kids’ activities, including a bouncy house.

Guitarist Sean Heninger provided the music, playing rock hits from the 1960s and 1970s.