25th Annual Livermore Valley Wine Auction Raised Nearly $500,000 for Local Children’s Charities

Livermore Valley, October 2019 – The Livermore Valley Winegrowers Foundation and the Wente Foundation for Arts Education are pleased to announce that together they raised nearly $500,000 for under-served East Bay children at the 25th annual Livermore Valley Wine Auction on September 21, 2019. This event has raised over $5 million over its 25 years.

The two host foundations will present checks to the following beneficiaries at a special check presentation event on January 15, 2020: Agape Villages, providing high-quality services for foster children; the Boys and Girls Club of Tracy for their summer program for under-served kids; Camp Phoenix, offering summer camp for low-income East Bay kids; Livermore Shakespeare’s “So Wise So Young” program for second graders throughout the Tri-Valley; and the Livermore Science and Society Center for mobile exhibits.

“The 25th anniversary event was a big success, due to our generous sponsors, donors, guests, and volunteers. It’s great to see our Livermore Valley wineries come together with guests from throughout the Bay Area to make a difference for local kids,” says Christine Wente, Auction Chair.

The success of this year’s event was due to generous contributions from many individuals and companies, including the two Title Sponsors, the Priem Family Foundation and First Tech Federal Credit Union with Jeff and Doris Hank. Some of the top live auction lots included a “barrel to glass” trip to France with the cooperage Tonnellerie O, and the inaugural barrel of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon from the Cranor family. Other popular lots included winemaker dinners, winery tours, a brewery tour, and trips to Alaska, Las Vegas, and Mexico.

The evening started with wine tasting hosted by 20 Livermore Valley winemakers who poured their best wines while the guests perused the silent auction lots. Then the 325 guests enjoyed a beautiful dinner on the historic Wente Vineyards estate along with lively bidding on 21 live auction lots, followed by a successful fund-a-need that raised $125,000 for Agape Villages, a local foster care agency. The evening ended with lively dancing and lots of toasts to a generous community.

Beneficiary applications for the 2020 Livermore Valley Wine Auction can be found at lvwf.org and are due December 1, 2019. Organizations that support under-served East Bay children are encouraged to apply.

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 Bay Area. For more information and photos, please contact Brandi Lombardi, Auction Manager, at auctionmgr@lvwf.org or (925) 321-8338.