Those who love the smell of charcoal and the taste of seared deliciousness are invited to attend the first Guys Who Grill from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, June 16 at Butler Township Community Park, 468 S. Duffy Road.

The event will benefit the Golden Tornado Scholastic Foundation’s Weekend Backpack Program at Butler Area School District, which provides nutritious foods to disadvantaged students in the district each Friday.

Butler Township is hosting the event.

More than 20 grillers will whip up a signature dish at the event, where those who attend can sample each grilled item, discuss the recipes with the grillers, bid on a basket in the raffle, buy refreshments sold by the Golden Tornado Scholastic Foundation at the dek hockey rink’s concession stand, and enjoy music by a DJ.

In addition to filling the stomachs of those strolling the park, the food prepared by the guys will be judged by the Butler Township Commissioners and teachers from the Butler Area Vocational-Technical School’s culinary arts program, said Tom Knights, Butler Township manager.

“I’m not comfortable with my bosses judging me, so I’ll be the floater,” said Knights, who will fill in at a grill if any guys cannot attend.

Knights, an experienced griller, will make a grilled dessert for the event if his services are required.

The event represents the first time in recent memory that the township has collaborated with the school district to raise funds for a program.

“It’s probably long overdue, to be honest,” Knights said.

He said many of the initial ticket-buyers were those who volunteer for the Weekend Backpack Program.

Knights said he was told more than 400 backpacks went home with students throughout the district’s schools each Friday in the 2022-23 school year, meaning those students had food for the weekend.

“We assume there will be an equal need next year,” he said.

Knights’ goal is to raise $5,000 for the Golden Tornado Scholastic Foundation to fund the program.

“The more you hear about it, the more you appreciate the number of volunteers who are needed every week,” he said of the backpack program.

Among the fare that will sizzle at Guys Who Grill will be Italian sausage, smoked meats and vegetable dishes, Knights said.

Attendees can peruse the grills as each “guy” tends to their dish, he said.

Barry Cummings, owner of Cummings Candy & Coffee, will work with his daughter, Penelope, 11, to create cafe mocha French toast on a flat-top grill he will bring from home.

The duo have created 138 varieties of French toast since they’ve been preparing the breakfast item each Sunday since Penelope was 8 years old.

“We do something different every Sunday,” Cumming said of the father-daughter tradition.

He said chocolate syrup and espresso from his shop will be mixed in with the egg wash that will coat the brioche before it goes onto the hot, buttered grill.

“It’s one of our favorite versions,” Cummings said.

Cummings said he signed up for Guys Who Grill because Penelope attends school in the Butler district, where his wife is school board president.

“I think it’s pretty appropriate,” he said.

Another experienced griller who has signed up for the event is Butler Mayor Bob Dandoy of Butler.

He plans to prepare grilled peaches with balsamic glaze and whipped cream.

“I’m going to experiment over the next week to find the perfect combinations (of ingredients),” he said.

Dandoy enjoys cooking and often finds himself behind the grill at barbecues held by his family and close friends.

He also is thrilled to help out the Weekend Backpack Program.

“It’s a great cause and I’m happy to help out in this way,” Dandoy said. “It’s going to be fun.”

Sheriff Mike Slupe, by his own admission, will likely be among the least experienced grillers at the event, but looks forward to it anyway.

His preliminary plan is to grill hot dogs, which will be served with chili and other toppings.

“I eat a lot of grilled food,” Slupe said, “but I’m not really a griller. I’m looking forward to seeing what the other grillers have to offer.”

Slupe said he is glad to participate in a project that will benefit the Weekend Backpack Program.

“At the end of the day, it’s a shame we have kids in our community who still have these needs,” he said.

Knights said tickets to the event are $20 in advance and $25 at the gate, but only 225 tickets will be available.

Tickets can be purchased during regular business hours at the Butler Township Building, 290 S. Duffy Road.

A list of other locations where tickets will be sold is available on the township website, butlertownship.org.

“It’s all about supporting the foundation and Weekend Backpack Program,” Knights said. “It’ll be a great time.”