The Livermore Valley Winegrowers Foundation and the Wente Foundation for Arts Education are pleased to announce that together they donated $137,500 to community non-profits as a result of the 21st annual Livermore Valley Wine Auction, held on May 9, 2015. On July 22, 2015, the two host foundations presented checks to the following beneficiaries: Las Positas College Foundation’s 2GenFund, providing high quality childcare for the children of Las Positas College students; George Mark Children’s House, providing comprehensive end-of-life care for children and their families; Bankhead Theater, making world-class arts and entertainment accessible to the youth of the Tri-Valley; Shakespeare’s Associates K-12 in-school program, enabling teaching artists to bring Shakespeare’s texts to life in local schools. A special fund-a-need at the Auction raised $37,500 for digital arts education programs in the nine comprehensive Tri-Valley high schools.
The Livermore Valley Wine Auction was generously sponsored by the following companies as Master Sommelier Sponsors: The Rose Hotel, FedEx, Diablo Magazine, Azamara Club Cruises, Amos Productions, and Black Tie Transportation; and the following companies as Sommelier Sponsors: Delta Air Lines, The Safeway Foundation, Crop Production Services, World Cooperage, Morgan Stanley, Greenan, Peffer, Sallander & Lally, Chevron, and Berlogar Stevens & Associates. “The tremendous support we receive from our sponsors, donors, guests and Livermore Valley wineries is what makes the Auction a great success,” said Peter Leary, President of the Livermore Valley Winegrowers Foundation Board.
The Wine Auction, held in the Barrel Room at the Wente Vineyards Estate Winery, was attended by approximately 300 guests who enthusiastically bid on 21 live auction packages and dozens of silent auction lots. In addition, the guests generously raised their bidding paddles during the fund-a-need, raising $37,500 for technology for digital arts education. This amount was donated directly to high schools in Livermore, Dublin, Pleasanton and San Ramon. During the silent auction, approximately 20 Livermore Valley winemakers poured their finest wines, showcasing the range and quality of wines grown and produced in the region. Christine Wente, President of the Wente Foundation Board, said “The Livermore Valley Wine Auction is one way that the Livermore Valley wineries give back. We’re proud to co-host this event that showcases Livermore Valley wines and improves the lives of children in our community.”
The mission of the Livermore Valley Winegrowers Foundation is to raise funds to improve the quality of life for under-served local children. The mission of the Wente Foundation for Arts Education is to provide support for arts education programs in the Livermore Valley and throughout Northern California. For more information, please contact Brandi Addington, Auction Manager, at auctionmgr@lvwf.org or (925) 321-8338.