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Vandenberg to host 23rd Annual Texas Blowout event
VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Vandenberg is scheduled to host the 23rd Annual Texas Blowout event at Cocheo Park here from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 5.
The Texas Blowout event is a barbecue coordinated by 392nd Training Squadron personnel to raise funds for another annual event here - Operation Kids Christmas.
Proceeds from the Texas Blowout will pay for this year's Operation Kids Christmas, an annual event in which the men and women of Vandenberg sponsor approximately 200 local underprivileged children during the holidays. For more than 50 years, the Vandenberg community has supported children from Lompoc, Santa Maria, Guadalupe, Solvang and the Santa Ynez Valley.
"Texas Blowout originally started out as just an indoor silent auction," said Capt. Robert Glas, from the 392nd TRS. "After a few years of good performance, the training squadron staff decided it would be nice to include an outdoor barbecue. As such, the event was named 'Texas Blowout' and has continued to be the biggest fundraiser for Operation Kids Christmas each year."
The 2011 Texas Blowout will feature numerous family-fun activities and will include a disk jockey, silent auction, rock climbing wall, bouncy castle, gift baskets, games, skateboarding demonstrations, cotton candy and other miscellaneous food and drink.
"Another event at the blowout will be the annual commander's cow pie toss," Captain Glas said. "Units decorate the pies and their respective commander, or representative, compete to see who can throw their pie the farthest."
Team Vandenberg is celebrating the 23th anniversary of the Texas Blowout and plans are in the works to make it the biggest yet, but that will require base participation.
"This year the goal is to raise $14,000 in support of Operation Kids Christmas," Captain Glas said.
The Operation Kids Christmas program's preparation requires a year-round effort, which includes the Texas Blowout.
"Texas Blowout is one of the largest fundraisers for Operation Kids Christmas each year," said Capt. Glas. "This event is for an incredibly good cause and we would like to see it continue for many more years."
The event is open to anyone with base access.
Ticket prices are as follows: $10 for military personnel E-6 and above, $20 for a family ticket; $8 for military personnel E-5 and below, $10 for a family ticket. Tickets can be purchased through the following unit POCs:
Lieutenant Felix Abeyta, 1st Air and Space Test Squadron
Lieutenant Jason Altenhofen, 1st Air and Space Test Squadron
Lieutenant Shaun Cain, 4th Space Launch Squadron
Lieutenant Thiago Huxley, 4th Space Launch Squadron
Lieutenant Meagan Kuchan, 4th Space Launch Squadron
'Lieutenant Katie Emmett, 2nd Range Operations Squadron
Lieutenant Melissa Kromer, 30th Civil Engineer Squadron
Lieutenant Anoop Josehp, 30th Medical Support Squadron
Lieutenant Ty Hanson, 30th Medical Support Squadron
Lieutenant Ryan Button, 30th Medical Operations Squadron
Lieutenant Lisa Cochran, 30th Operations Support Squadron
Lieutenant Andrew Ferguson, 30th Security Forces Squadron
Captain Michael Trett, 533rd Training Squadron
Captain Linn VanWoerkom, 392nd Training Squadron
Captain Kevin Hummert, 392nd Training Squadron
Lieutenant Ryan Wiseman, 392nd Training Squadron
Lieutenant Brandon Castillo, 392nd Training Squadron