By Taylor Devore |Contributor
The seventh annual Burger Battle by the Boys & Girls Clubs of the CSRA will take place at the E.W. Hagler Club on Thursday, Oct. 4 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The event will host Augusta’s top chefs as they compete to be named the crowd’s favorite burger and be able to display the winner’s banner in their restaurant for the next year.According to Adrienne Patterson, the resource development director of the Boys & Girls of the CRSA, last year’s Burger Battle was a big success. The event brought in unique and delicious burgers from 6 of Augusta’s local chefs. Returning competitors include Finch & 5th and the returning champion, Village Deli.Several new competitors have been lined up for the battle, including Bodega Ultima, Tako Sushi, TBonz, Waffle House, Edgar’s Grille and Twisted Burrito. Additionally, the Savannah River Brewing Company will be offering beverages to guests.According to Patterson, this year is planned to be bigger and better than before, now tailoring to younger families. A new tent for kid’s burgers will make its debut in addition to an ice cream truck and first-ever chain restaurant competitor, Waffle House.Last year’s Burger Battle raised almost $50,000 for the youth in Boys & Girls Clubs. Proceeds this year will go the Boys & Girls Clubs of the CSRA to support their effort to inspire and enable all young people of the communities.Patterson said that fundraisers like these are very important to local Boys & Girls Clubs.“The clubs are here to promote academic excellence, leadership and character development and healthy lifestyles to the youth in the community,” Patterson said. “We expose our members to jobs, colleges, apprenticeships and other opportunities that they otherwise would not know about.”Since the clubs started in the CSRA nine years ago, regularly attending members have had 100 percent high school graduation rates along with no teen pregnancies or first-time offenses within the juvenile system.Tickets are available at bgccsra.org, via link on the Boys & Girls Clubs' Facebook page or at the gates the night of the event. Tickets cost $100 for two people, and this includes all burgers, food, drinks—both alcoholic and nonalcoholic—and live music.