Okoboji, IA — The Battle of the Bartenders at the University of Okoboji Winter Games netted 28 thousand 600 dollars. The Thursday evening event at Parks Marina allows the public to vote – with their wallets – for the best specialty drink, and the proceeds all go toward that individual bar’s designated charity.

Trevor Johnson from the Parks Marina staff says each participant is guaranteed 500 dollars for their charity. Marina founder Butch Parks recently passed away, and the company matched the 14 thousand 300 dollars donated by attendees at the kickoff event.

University of Iowa Children’s Hospitals was the most popular beneficiary this year. Johnson says Battle of the Bartenders has raised more than 150 thousand dollars since it first started.