After much planning and preparation, we proud to announce our charity project for 2007. With much ado, the Hot Zone Online proudly presents:
Raising the HEAT for Autism
What we’re doing: For this year’s project, we have truly special stuff in store for the hot & spicy food-loving public. First and foremost, we will be releasing our own collectible hot sauce, entitled “Epidemic Proportions,” through the generosity and help from John Hard of CaJohns Fiery Foods and Jim Campbell of the Mild to Wild Pepper and Herb Co. They have donated the ingredients and bottles to make a collectible that nearly every collector should desire to have. The sauce is a unique concoction, and one of the few truly green sauces you will find. Composed of green fataliis, green red savinas, and a little bit of Naga Morich, it’s a sauce that the most diehard heat lovers would enjoy. The bottle bears a label design conceived by us and created by Darrell Fitch of Big Dawg Salsa. With a layer of blue and white wax over the round bottle, it’s gorgeous. Here are the label designs:
This sauce will be a limited run of 150 bottles. Why 150? According to the CDC, the incidence of autism is now 1 in 150 children. That’s both alarming and epidemic to say the least. The first bottle of this series will be sold for $100, with the rest being sold for $20 per bottle plus shipping. If you have a specific bottle number that you would like, we will honor all requests in the order that they are received. Payment can be made through Paypal, and we will have a special account set up to accept these payments.
Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, we will also be auctioning off gift baskets of hot and spicy food products which were donated by the manufacturers especially for this project. Each basket will contain a variety of items and will be available also through eBay. Our sponsors include:
Ashley Food Company, Inc.
My Favorite New Mexico Foods
Csigi Gourmet
Nando’s
Z and Z Honey Co.
Sauce2U.com
(Others are pending at time of this posting)
In addition, anyone wanting to simply make a donation of cash to help out the cause can do so as well. We will have available an account with Firstgiving, which is an online and fully secure way to make donations that will be sent directly to Autism Speaks at the end of the month-long project.
Why we’re doing this: Our five year-old son, Ari, was diagnosed with Autism at the age of three. This is a picture of Ari, who is a wonder and a joy to be around:
photo by Ryan Glaze
We really don’t have any clue as to why Ari developed Autism, but neither do most parents. The fact is that he’s the most lovable, endearing child you’d ever want to meet and has made amazing strides with his development thanks to early intervention and therapies. In fact, Ari is at or above the academic level of his peers right now.
We strongly feel the need to support the Autism community and research by doing what we can, and our blog is a perfect vehicle by which we can reach a lot of people. Most people reading this either have someone in their family who is affected, or has a friend who has someone in their family who is, or simply knows someone who has Autistic family members. By supporting research, education, and treatment through an organization such as Autism Speaks, we can do our part to try and do something to stem the tide of this devastating diagnosis. We hope that you will support us with this, so we hope that you will bid early and often and don’t hesitate to pick up some of these products to help support a truly worthy cause.
To summarize, here’s how you can support this cause:
- Purchase a collectible hot sauce bottle, entitled “Epidemic Proportions,” crafted by CaJohns Fiery Foods. It is a round bottle filled with a mega-hot sauce made with Naga Jolokia, Red Savina habaneros, and Fatalii peppers. It is a limited run of 150 bottles. If you want the #1 bottle, the cost is $100. The rest of the bottles are a mere $20, plus S&H. Pictures of the bottles as well as purchase information will be posted soon. Advance inquiries can be sent to us via our CONTACT FORM.
- Bid on a variety of hot & spicy food care packages which will be posted on eBay. The prices vary depending on what you want, but each one contains some yummy stuff you’ll love. We will be posting information on those eBay listings within the next few days.
- Online contributions to Autism Speaks through Firstgiving. You can find the website we have set up at The Hot Zone Online’s Firstgiving page, and this will be open for three months.
- Feel free to do more than one option. Buy a hot sauce AND make a donation. Any combination of the above options helps us get closer to our goal of raising as much money as possible with this project!!
IMPORTANT: 100% of the proceeds will be donated to Autism Speaks. Any purchases are tax-deductible and tax receipts will be generated from Autism Speaks once this project has ended on January 14, 2008. That’s right…your purchase is a tax deduction. Not a bad incentive, huh?!
More information about the items for sale will be posted in the next few days. Last year’s fundraising total was a mere $652. We know that we can do much better this year. Thanks in advance for your support!
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» Nando’s collectible hot sauce bottles now available on eBay
» Raising the HEAT for Autism update - January 15
» Raising the HEAT for Autism redux
» Raising the HEAT for Autism update - January 3
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Awesome deal guys. Hats off to all parties involved.
Comment fired by Ryan — December 14, 2007- 3:49 pm
[…] Here’s the specific post: Raising the HEAT for Autism […]
Pingback by Raising the HEAT for Autism at Auterrific — December 14, 2007- 5:08 pm
I am glad to be a part of this event and I hope it is successful!
I think there needs to be a serious look at vaccinations and the autism rate. In NJ they are trying to mandate flu vaccines for preschool children! Sigh.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/09/nyregion/09vaccine.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
Comment fired by Lars — December 14, 2007- 5:29 pm
Just how hot is this stuff?
Comment fired by Becky — December 14, 2007- 5:37 pm
Becky,
We’re going to get some of the newly-bottled sauce tonight to take some pictures. All we know is that CaJohn has said “it’s a pretty damn hot sauce.”
The jury, as it stands, is still out.
Comment fired by Joe & Linda — December 14, 2007- 5:54 pm
I would like the #1 bottle if it is still for sale, also the #7.
Its a great thing you and Linda are doing.
Brant
Comment fired by BLANE — December 14, 2007- 6:48 pm
Joe and Linda I sent this message to your contact form but, I’ll hit you here as well I would like the #150 bottle.
Comment fired by Sam — December 14, 2007- 7:18 pm
A special thanks to Martha and Glen Franzel of Spot’s Run Farms for the kind donation of the Chiles used in this sauce. It was a challenge to work with the “green” habs and fataliis and get a full flavored taste. I think this sauce is the hottest green sauce I’ve ever tasted that did not include the use of extracts. I think it is rather tasty as well.
It has a pleasant look about it with the red and green specks floating around, the red being crushed red chiles and Naga Jolokia flake. It also has a savory note from the inclusion of the Mexican Oregano and the fresh cilantro. Of course as in most of my sauces, there is onion and garlic, and the tequila adds a nice hint to balance the lime juice. It is a low sodium sauce with just enough salt to bring out the flavors. All of that being said, it is very hot, and I told Joe on the phone that I doubt many will taste anything but the fire, and it lingers…
Comment fired by CaJohn — December 14, 2007- 9:29 pm
Joe and Linda add a high number also for eating….
Comment fired by BLANE — December 14, 2007- 9:50 pm
Okey-dokey…bottles 1,7,150 are reserved…plus whatever one that Buddah gets when we get the lot together. Perhaps #18, Buddah? As a member of the tribe, you should get the reference.
Comment fired by Joe & Linda — December 15, 2007- 5:41 am
Put me down for #13 please! Sorry Ed
Comment fired by Jim- StepUpForCharity.org — December 15, 2007- 6:26 am
I’d love #11 please….. GReat cause.
Comment fired by Fat Kid Sauces — December 15, 2007- 8:44 am
Not sure what the reference is, but it truly doesn’t make a difference to me. It will be opened and consumed more than likely. Just leave me last, so everyone has a shot at what they want. I just want to help ya out.
Comment fired by Buddah — December 15, 2007- 10:40 am
Buddah,
Member of the tribe=Jewish
The number 18 is the equivalent to the “chai,” which is often used by many people for donations and such. We’ll work out a bottle for ya, have no worries.
Comment fired by Joe & Linda — December 15, 2007- 11:19 am
4 years of Hebrew school wasted on me. lol I don’t remember much and I don’t follow any part of the religion, except for exchanging presents with my family for Hanukkah. I am agnostic to the core, so forgive my lack of knowledge.
Comment fired by Buddah — December 15, 2007- 11:31 am
Hi Guys!
Will you put me down for a bottle as well? Or am I too far away?
Comment fired by Ewa — December 16, 2007- 8:02 am
Ewa, if you can find a way to pay the cost of the bottle plus the shipping…we’ll find a way to get it to you in Sweden. It’s actually quite cool to imagine this sauce making its way overseas to another continent. We’ll put you down for a bottle. Let us know if you have a particular bottle number in mind, or else we’ll just pick one out of the list.
Comment fired by Joe & Linda — December 16, 2007- 11:29 am
How about Paypal?
Otherwise I know I can make oversea payments through my bank but then i need an IBAN number.
No special bottle number, it will be consumed
Comment fired by Ewa — December 16, 2007- 12:29 pm
I’d like bottle 23, and also a higher number bottle to be consumed.
Comment fired by Eric — December 16, 2007- 2:01 pm
If Ewa can’t find an easy way to arrange payment, her bottle is on me.
Comment fired by Mark — December 16, 2007- 4:22 pm
I’m in for one bottle, any number at $50.00.
Comment fired by MSK — December 16, 2007- 8:22 pm
Hey MSK!
Nice to hear from ya, amigo. For such a generous offer, we’ll set you up with bottle #3.
You’re a scholar and a saint.
No wait…maybe just a scholar.
Hmmm…perhaps not. But we like ya anyway.
Comment fired by Joe & Linda — December 16, 2007- 9:18 pm
Wow, nearing the end of the weekend following the announcement of this project, we have reservations for 22 bottles. In fact, we’ve received pledges for almost as much in one weekend as we did for our entire last project!
Lots of low number still available for those who collect. #4-6, 8-10, 12, and 14-22 are still in play for those seeking a low number in this series. Reserve one early and often!!
Comment fired by Joe & Linda — December 16, 2007- 9:34 pm
“14-22 are still in play”
I thought you were giving #18 to Buddah for tzeddakah?
Comment fired by Mark — December 16, 2007- 9:53 pm
Is #22 still available? If so I’ll Paypal ya!
Comment fired by Candy — December 17, 2007- 12:08 am
Mark, Buddah never stated a preference either way. So, unless another fellow yid steps up and claims that number…we may send it to him anyway. Usually the lower numbers are scarfed up by the collecting rather than consuming hot sauce crowd, so that’s why he originally hinted he’d take any higher number…because he was going to crack it open and eat it all anyway.
Comment fired by Joe & Linda — December 17, 2007- 8:11 am
Bummer all my numbers are taken
Comment fired by parker394 — December 17, 2007- 10:46 am
Just so I didn’t miss it, where do we send payment?
Comment fired by BLANE — December 17, 2007- 11:21 am
For everyone who’s reserved a collectible bottle, here’s the latest info:
1. Payment will be made thru Paypal if possible. We just need to create an account for the blog so we can keep our personal one separate in terms of recordkeeping. Those without access to Paypal can just contact us for alternate payment options.
2. We don’t have the shipping & handling charge figured out yet. So as to not overcharge for shipping (and to not have to pack them ourselves), we will do our shipping through something like a UPS store that will pack, ship, and insure all at the same time. As soon as we have that information, we can begin to send out invoices…hopefully by later this week.
3. The bottles themselves are not quite done yet. CaJohn will be getting the labels done today, and then just needs to affix them and add the wax to the top. Then, they’ll be ready to go out after that.
Other questions? Don’t hesitate to ask!
Comment fired by Joe & Linda — December 17, 2007- 1:16 pm
Thank you so much for your generous offer Mark.
Paypal works for me though.
Comment fired by Ewa — December 17, 2007- 3:42 pm
“fellow yid” lol I love it. I am a Chileyid.
I posted this on on my Minnesota Vikings Messageboard, not sure it got much notice though. Too many fans talking about Monday night football to notice. My email is albuddah@yahoo.com, so as soon as you want payment through PayPal, let me know.
Just curious if 150 is available. If it is I want it.
Comment fired by Buddah — December 17, 2007- 5:50 pm
I’ll take 18 then.
Ewa - You’re welcome!
Glad it works out.
Comment fired by Mark — December 17, 2007- 8:27 pm
Put me down for #66, Sorry Jim!
Ed
Comment fired by ChileHeadEd — December 18, 2007- 5:54 am
Bottle #3………Kool!!!
Comment fired by MSK — December 18, 2007- 7:59 am
If you decide to do a second run of 1000, I want #666.
Seriously.
Comment fired by Mark — December 18, 2007- 8:05 am
Well, Mark, if you get bottle 18, it’s 6+6+6.
Comment fired by Linda — December 18, 2007- 10:09 am
Requesting #17 please. Going over to Paypal to make the arrangements.
Comment fired by Donna — December 18, 2007- 4:11 pm
You might oughta talk to CaJohn before letting Candy have #22
That’s his number.
Comment fired by Jim- StepUpForCharity.org — December 18, 2007- 5:15 pm
Hey guys, if you’re still in need of sponsors, put Droolin’ Devil down for some gifts baskets. Shoot me an email.
And put Uncle Big down for #9 and #4 or #94 if you still have them.
This is a great cause and we’d like to do what we can to help you guys.
Comment fired by Uncle Big — December 18, 2007- 7:19 pm
Thanks for watchin’ out for me Jim, but Candy can have the #22.
Comment fired by CaJohn — December 18, 2007- 11:35 pm
Joe & Linda….
Should the $50 I pledged be broken down with $30 going through the FirstGiving site and bottle cost through your PayPal account?
BTW…Anyone yet to visit Joe & Linda’s Firstgiving page, please do so. While you’re there, take at look at the outstanding donation made by our own “Parker394″. Outstanding sir! Absolutely Outstanding!
Suddenly I’m feeling a little puny! LOL
Comment fired by MSK — December 20, 2007- 6:51 pm
Joe and Linda were kind enough to offer me bottle #69. So I gladly accepted! lol
Comment fired by Lars — December 20, 2007- 10:21 pm
I was wondering when someone was going to grab that bottle, Lars. Our friend Rick begged his wife for it, but was shot down. LOL
Comment fired by Linda — December 21, 2007- 10:03 am
Hey MSK, thanks for the mention, but it was my privilege to make a donation. I don’t think there is such a thing as small donations. Every bit counts, and what a great cause for people who deserve it.
I hope Joe, Linda, Ari and everyone here have a Wonderful Holiday.
Comment fired by parker394 — December 21, 2007- 3:53 pm
I would like 2 bottles of the lowest numbers possible besides #1 since it is already taken.
Ronnie Walley
Comment fired by Ronnie Walley — December 21, 2007- 8:45 pm
This is awesome!! I’d love bottle # 9….. i think it’s been taken- if so, any number will do.
I’ve only used PayPal once or twice- not sure how it works, but please reserve a bottle for me and I’ll keep checking to see how you want to get these paid for.
Hannah Johnson
NC Chapter- Surfers Healing
Comment fired by Hannah Johnson — January 3, 2008- 10:48 am
Hi Hannah.
I work with J Pike at ESS. Glad to see that the word is spreading about these bottles.
Tracy C
Comment fired by Cape Fear Pepper Company — January 4, 2008- 8:30 pm
Payment sent for #40. :doublethumbsup:
Comment fired by DK — January 4, 2008- 10:26 pm
Keep up the great work, I can’t wait to get it.
Comment fired by Buddah — January 5, 2008- 6:56 am
I learned to do ABA therapy to help out a friends son. Her husband loves anything hot! I heard about you on 10TV and I’m local is there any way to get some without paying the shipping so I can buy more bottles of sauce?
Colette
Comment fired by Colette McNelis — January 20, 2008- 10:57 pm
I like Colette am local and would like to get a couple of bottles….is there a way to get it locally and avoid shipping cost?
thanks so much
Lynn
Comment fired by Lynn — January 20, 2008- 11:29 pm
Is it too late to get a bottle or are they all sold out. Let me know I would love to get a couple
Comment fired by amy — January 26, 2008- 8:24 pm
The sauce is fantastic, of the 3 bottles i got (50, 51 & 52) 50 is gonna remain unopened, 51 is nearing the end
and 52 was auctioned of on the chillis galore forum and it raised £30 ($60) with the money going to the national autistic society in the UK, I also got a donation of £10. So in the end i raised £40 ($80) for NAS.
So this sauce raised the heat for autism on both sides of the pond.
Comment fired by Dave T — March 6, 2008- 8:30 am