14th Annual King of the Wing
Heats up Magens Bay!
ST. THOMAS, VI, September 25, 2025 - The check presentation ceremony for the 14th annual King of the Wing contest took place on Thursday, September 25, 2025, at the Coral Reef Academy facility on St. Thomas. Alpine and White Bay Group, organizers of the competition, revealed the donation amount from this year's event, which took place on June 14th, and presented a check in the amount of $102,124.60 to Executive Director Dr. Jody Miller and her staff.
The King of the Wing contest is an annual chicken wing cook-off held at Magens Bay Beach. Special guest, rapper Lupe Fiasco, performed live for the crowd! To help bring attention to this culinary event, celebrity chef and owner of a pop-up restaurant called Melnificent Wingz, Melissa Cottingham, joined the judges' panel. Mel has been featured on the Food Network, Good Day LA, ABC’s Super Market Sweep, and other notable TV shows nationwide! Also joining our panel, from St. Croix, was the "Crucian Foodie," Ms. Anquanette Gaspard.
Teams consisting of top local restaurants, businesses, organizations, and chicken wing enthusiasts prepared an impressive variety of delicious wings to raise money for a great cause. Deloitte audited the contest, and this year's winner, in the Restaurant Division and best Overall wing, was "STJ Speakeasy," while "DM Hospitality" won the Non-Restaurant Division.
In addition to being the island’s most anticipated, family-friendly culinary and community event, King of the Wing serves as a crucial fundraising platform for local charities. All proceeds from this year’s event were donated to the Coral Reef Academy (CRA), a 501(c)3 organization. CRA provides educational opportunities for children with developmental challenges in the US Virgin Islands.
"King of the Wing showcases and honors the culinary traditions of the Virgin Islands community. We take pride in hosting an event that grows its charitable impact each year," said Vernon Araujo, Director of Philanthropy at Alpine and lead event coordinator for KOW.
Starting in 2010, King of the Wing has now raised over $922,682 for local non-profits over the years. KOW 2025 exceeded expectations with thousands of people in attendance, 36 participating teams, and over $102,000.00 raised for the Coral Reef Academy! Should you have any questions, please call Vernon Araujo at 340-714-2020, email kingofthewingvi@gmail.com, or visit www.kowvi.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. To find out more about the Coral Reef Academy, visit their website at https://coralreefacademyusvi.org/.
