Neighbors Helping Our Kids and Our County – Sonoma Wine Country Weekend Beneficiaries

As Sonoma County’s largest and most fun fundraising event each year, Sonoma Wine Country Weekend, and the Sonoma Harvest Wine Auction in particular, bring the vintners, growers and guests together to invest in our community by aiding efforts to support youth and children to ensure their success, preserve our environment for future generations, and provide for basic unmet services which improve the health and welfare of our local communities. To date, more than $11 million has been invested in Sonoma County’s future.

In addition to supporting over thirty Sonoma County charities each year, almost $2 million in Sonoma Wine Country Weekend gross proceeds directly support the local economy and marketing and promotion of Sonoma County growers and vintners year-round. Promotion and media coverage of the event generates hundreds of millions of additional media impressions for Sonoma County wines and tourism.

Each year, a charity is chosen for “Fund the Future”, where Sonoma Harvest Wine Auction attendees raise their paddles in various increments to fund the organization/challenge. The 2012 “Fund the Future” recipient, Boys and Girls Clubs of Sonoma Valley and Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Sonoma County received $264,000.

In addition to the designated “Fund the Future” beneficiaries, Sonoma County non-profit organizations apply for grants, which are then awarded by the co-presenters’ foundations, the Sonoma Valley Vintners and Growers Foundation, and the Sonoma County Vintners Foundation.  Grant applications are normally accepted in December, with awards announced in March of each year, based on the net proceeds of the preceding Sonoma Wine Country Weekend.

To see the 2012 Beneficiaries Press Release, click here.

To apply for a Sonoma Wine Country Weekend Grant and get on the mailing list, email info@sonomawinecountryweekend.com.