January 2022
The Wente Foundation for Arts Education (WFAE) is pleased to share that as of December 2021, it has crossed a milestone threshold and donated over $1,150,000 to arts education programs since its inception in 2012. WFAE’s mission is to raise money for art education programs in the Livermore Valley and Bay Area because we believe that the arts are an essential part of a well-rounded education. The social impact of the Wente Foundation for Arts Education is an important aspect of Wente Family Estates’ overall commitment to sustainability and the community they serve.
“LVJUSD is remarkably fortunate that the Wente Foundation for Arts Education contributes so generously to keep the visual and performing arts alive and fully integrated into our 13,200+ TK-12 students’ learning experiences. Over the years, WFAE has secured and donated funds to enhance our drama, instrumental, and choral programs. Thanks to WFAE, our talented students have benefitted from contributions to brand new marching band uniforms, stage performance risers, and new theatre curtains. During distance learning, WFAE donated hundreds of art supply kits to students so that they could continue to express themselves artistically and creatively. WFAE’s ongoing support ensures that Livermore students have a range of immersive opportunities to activate, develop and showcase their myriad talents. WFAE’s support of SPARC’s Shakespeare in the Schools, a nationally acclaimed model program, ensures that every student in every school has access to a high level integrated classical arts experience at designated grade levels. For all of these enrichment opportunities and more, we are extremely grateful.”
– Kelly Bowers, Superintendent of the Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District
Donations to WFAE in 2021 came from many sources, including Wente Family Estates’ employees through the company’s employee charitable giving program, WE Give; a generous donation from one of WFAE’s partners, Chevron; an online auction of original artwork by local artist Janeen Heath, the 2020 Artist Series label artist; sales of Wente Vineyards Artist Series wines; and the highly successful 2021 Livermore Valley Wine Auction.
New this year, 5% of all Wente Vineyards Artist Series wines sales are being donated by Wente Vineyards to the Wente Foundation for Arts Education. These generous donations cover the operating costs for the Wente Foundation, enabling each dollar raised to be donated to local arts education programs. Each year, the Artist Series collection features unique art from a local San Francisco Bay Area artist on Wente Vineyards Small Lot red wine blends: GSM, Serenity, Sonata, and Duetto. The Artist Series collection is sold exclusively through the Wente Vineyards Tasting Lounge and Wentevineyards.com.
All this fundraising enabled WFAE to donate nearly $200,000 in 2021 to many local arts education programs, including Music Pathways, providing music lessons for local students; Young Rembrandts, providing after-school art classes for local children; Diablo Ballet, for school outreach; Living Jazz, for music education; and several Livermore Valley area schools, including Diablo Vista, Marilyn Avenue, and Livermore High School. The proceeds of the 2021 Livermore Valley Wine Auction, which WFAE proudly supports, benefited SPARC (the new performing arts company previously known as Livermore Shakespeare) for their in-school programs and QUEST Science Center for their innovative educational offerings.
Wente Family Estates employees actively support the mission of WFAE. In fall 2021, Wente employees donated art supplies for Marilyn Avenue Elementary School in Livermore, enabling the students to start the school year with a fresh set of materials, and volunteered to spruce up the school’s on-site garden.