Kids Kupboard hosting annual Battle of the Businesses event

WASILLA — Kids Kupboard is hosting the annual Battle of the Businesses event, kicking off at 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 5 at Snyder Park.

“We’ve got all kinds of great stuff,” Kids Kupboard Executive Director Lynette Ortolano said.

Battle of the Businesses is a new annual event put on by Kids Kupboard, New York Life, and Finance of America Mortgage. It’s a day dedicated to fun and free food.

The highlight of the event is the inflatable jousting contest with participating business owners and staff battling other companies with only one emerging victorious and decreed that year’s champion. Participants really got into the spirit of fun during the inaugural event last year with many of them wearing flashy and silly costumes.

“It was so much fun,” Ortolano said.

Ortolano said the overall structure of the event is mostly the same this year, only larger in scale with some new additions like a beer garden. She said they also plan to give an award to the team with the best costumes.

“It’s kind of like last year on steroids,” Ortolano said with a laugh. “It’s back and it’s bigger and better than ever.”

Johnson said they raised about $12,000 last year and the money raised from the 2022 event will help them cover food costs during the school year. She said that numerous companies pitched in to help them offer a community barbecue for this year’s event and she’s encouraged by the continuous outpouring of support.

“We just have a bunch of folks that came together this year,” Ortolano said. “That is the only way everything keeps going. It’s always such a heartwarming effort. It’s always been a ‘yes’ from the community and that’s what moves the work forward for sure.”

For more information, call 907-360-9476 or visit kidskupboard.org.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com