2025 Big Boom Bracket Battle Grand Finale Duo

 
Perry, March 25, 2025 – The third round of the Big Boom Bracket Battle raised a total of $725.01 for Perry’s 4^th of July Fireworks, bringing total fundraising efforts now to $3,960.20 – just over one fifth of the total annual goal. Collected donations over the past week determined the winners of the Firecracker 4 matchups to now advance to the Grand Finale Duo, which will end on Tuesday, April 1^st and coincides with the Perry Chamber Annual Dinner.
 
“With an annual goal of $18,000 for Perry’s 4^th of July fireworks, every little bit adds up,” says Lynsi Pasutti, Executive Director of the Perry Chamber of Commerce. “Over the years, we have tried to come up with fun ways to raise funds. The Big Boom Bracket Battle certainly is silly, but it has been a unique way to fundraise for the community and there always seems to be surprises along the way.”
 
The Grand Finale Duo for the final round of the Big Boom Bracket Battle is Chief Grason Hill of the Perry Fire Department and Paige Scheib of Edward Jones.  #3 Chief Grason beat out #15 Sarah Reimers of the Perry Booster Club and #8 Paige Scheib beat out #12 Eddie Diaz of DMACC VanKirk Career Academy in the Firecracker 4 round.
 
“One of these two – Grason or Paige – will get a pie in their face next week,” adds Pasutti, “and the best part of it all is that regardless of who wins, the whole community benefits from the contest with a great fireworks show in July!” 
 
Donations for the final round of the contest will be accepted now through Tuesday, April 1st at
12pm. Just as before, online donations may be submitted at GiveButter.com/perry-chamber-foundation or GiveButter.com/2025BBBB2 and in-person cash donations will be collected at the McCreary Center (1800 Pattee Street). Donations may also be delivered to the Perry Chamber of Commerce at 1124 Willis Avenue or mailed to PO Box 472, Perry, IA 50220. 
 
The reward and entertainment of the actual pie-in-the-face will return to the Perry Chamber’s Annual Dinner on Tuesday, April 1st, as well as livestreamed on the Perry Chamber’s Facebook page.  Building from the momentum of the Big Boom Bracket Battle, two other Fireworks Drive fundraisers will take place in April. New this year at the Annual Dinner will be a Centerpiece Auction, also contributing to the fireworks drive. Chamber Members are invited to donate a centerpiece to showcase their business which will be auctioned off that night through a silent auction on GiveButter.com. Online bidding actually starts this week before the dinner, with previews of the centerpieces on GiveButter.com/c/PerryChamberCenterpiece/auction and bidding ending at 7pm that night.
 
 “With the Chamber’s Annual Dinner back on the first Tuesday of April – no foolin’ on April 1^st – we are changing things up this year, shifting the timing of the Radio Pie Auction and bringing back the finale of the Big Boom Bracket Battle, which should be enjoyable for attendees at the dinner,” Pasutti stated. “The Centerpiece Auction is brand new and I’m excited to see how that turns out between the creativity of our members and the outcome for the fireworks drive.”
 
The Radio Pie Auction will take place on Wednesday, April 16^th starting at 8am on-air on KDLS Raccoon Valley Radio 99.7 FM or AM 1310, and livestreamed on the Chamber’s Facebook page. Last year’s 20 “sweet” donations together brought in $7,200. Those interested in bidding should tune in and call the radio station at (515)465-5357 to place their bid.
 
The Radio Pie Auction brings together the best bakers in town, all donating freshly baked pies, cakes, cheesecakes or other desserts to be auctioned off to support the fireworks drive. The live auction takes place at the radio station – streamed on-air and Facebook, complete with a ‘pie cam’ view of auction items – with auctioneer Tom Burkgren and emcee Shawn Kenney, and generous support from Raccoon Valley Radio.
 
For more information and to follow along with the progress of the Big Boom Bracket Battle or Centerpiece Auction, visit www.GiveButter.com/Perry-Chamber-Foundation or the Perry Chamber’s Facebook page.  Questions can be directed to the Perry Chamber at PerryChamber@PerryIAChamber.org or (515) 465-4601.