It was a true Decade of Dogs celebration at Vizo Financial’s 10th Annual Hot Dog Eating Contest, which raised a total of $12,000 for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital. This year’s 10th-anniversary contest took place on July 19, 2023, and had 26 sponsors, nine contestants and three prizes.

The contest was held via Zoom and began with a few words from CMN Hospitals’ representative, Erika Zaborny-Myers. Also joining the contest was Miracle Child, Gannon Kupko, Jr., and his mom, Jennifer Kupko, to speak about the support they receive from CMN Hospitals, as well as how the donations made to CMN Hospitals have provided their family with extra comfort when they needed it the most.

Nine contestants from various credit unions went head-to-head to see who could eat the greatest number of hot dogs in five minutes. The contestants included: Josh Faith, Vizo Financial; Keeley Hartman, Vizo Financial; Jake Kissinger, New Cumberland FCU; Jeffrey Krenitsky, Service 1st FCU; Jae Mikalik, Vizo Financial; Corey Mosby, Blue Chip FCU; Paul Roby, Belco Community CU; Jordan Singh, Vizo Financial; and Kehgan Wolf, Belco Community CU.

Three prizes were awarded during the contest:

• The Top Dog: This prize was awarded to Jeffrey Krenitsky, Service 1st FCU, for consuming 7.5 hot dogs in five minutes. This is Jeffrey’s second Top Dog title.

• Hot Diggity Dog: This prize was awarded to Keeley Hartman, Vizo Financial, for showing the most spirit for the contest, which included a silver platter for her hot dogs and a humorous presence.

• Rollin' In The Dough: This prize was awarded to Jake Kissinger, New Cumberland FCU, for raising the most money – $2,020 – for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital.

“Over the past decade, our contest has seen tremendous growth,” said Erin Doan, diversity, equity and inclusion director for Vizo Financial. “But our goal with this year’s Decade of Dogs celebration was to make it larger than life and as memorable as possible, and that’s exactly what we did. We’re so thrilled to have raised $12,000 and to have had a great turnout of sponsors and contestants. We are very thankful to everyone who made this year’s Hot Dog Eating Contest a true 10th-anniversary celebration, and we can’t wait to see what next year will hold!”

The contest was sponsored by 26 credit unions, credit union service organizations and others through the purchase of this year’s exclusive DECADE OF DOGS sponsorship, as well as the contest’s signature All the Fixin’s and Frankfurter sponsorships:

• 1st Ed Credit Union

• Belco Community CU

• BHCU

• Blue Chip FCU

• Century Heritage FCU

• Carolinas Credit Union Foundation

• CU*Answers

• Feather CU Services LLC

• First Capital FCU

• Greenville FCU

• Hershey FCU

• Lanco FCU

• Lebanon FCU

• Members 1st FCU

• Merck Sharp & Dohme FCU

• Mon Valley Community FCU

• MY CU Services LLC

• New Cumberland FCU

• PSECU

• Riverfront FCU

• Service 1st FCU

• Shuford FCU

• Susquehanna Valley FCU

• USSCO FCU

• Vizo Financial

• Wheatland FCU

A recording of the Hot Dog Eating Contest is now available on Vizo Financial’s YouTube page.