Proceeds from Sonoma County Wine Auction Benefit Local Nonprofits

SCVF $1M Awarded with children holding books

SANTA ROSA, Calif. (August 30, 2022) – Sonoma County Vintners Foundation (SCVF) is pleased to announce a distribution of $1 million for 101 SCVF Community Grants to Sonoma County nonprofits that work across the areas of education & literacy, health & human services, the environment and arts & culture. See the full list of grant recipients at sonomawine.com/scvf-grant-recipients/.

Through the tremendous support and generosity of the Sonoma County wine community, donors, and sponsor partners, proceeds from the annual Sonoma County Wine Auction (SCWA) are distributed as SCVF Community Grants to local nonprofit organizations each year. This year’s grants were funded by the 2021 Sonoma County Wine Auction.

Foley Family Wines is the 2022 SCWA Honorary Chair and auction venue host. “We’re looking forward to hosting this year’s auction at Chalk Hill Estate Vineyards & Winery on September 17,” said Courtney Foley, Second Generation Vintner at Foley Family Wines, and member of the Sonoma County Vintners Board of Directors. “It is gratifying to see proceeds from last year’s auction are benefitting those in our local community who are most in need. My family and I are honored to help raise these critical funds again this year.”

The Sonoma County Vintners Foundation partners with the Community Foundation Sonoma County, who provides insights to aid in appropriating this important annual funding. Grants have been distributed to more than 400 Sonoma County nonprofit organizations to date.

“When many nonprofit organizations are facing a crisis of needing to serve more people with fewer economic resources, the Sonoma County Vintners Foundation is an inspiring force for good,” said Karin Demarest, Vice President for Community Impact for Community Foundation Sonoma County. “We’re delighted to partner with SCVF to support their critical grantmaking efforts as they help turn their donors’ generosity into resources helping support our community’s educational, environmental, arts, and human services organizations.”

In Their Own Words: What SCVF Community Grants Mean to Sonoma County Nonprofits

“We are so proud to partner with SCVF and CFSC to support our local students. By building a leveled reader library, Valley Vista Elementary School teachers can take students through each step necessary to reach complete literacy. The funding from this grant purchased shared leveled-reading libraries with packs of six or eight books at each level of support in class and intervention reading groups, as well as providing books that students take home for practice. This partnership is creating opportunities for all students on campus to achieve their academic goals while developing a love of reading.”
Maureen Highland, Executive Director, Petaluma Educational Foundation

“The continued support of Sonoma County Vintners Foundation is invaluable to CSN’s commitment to providing Evidence-Based Practice training to Sonoma County service providers. Your grant allows CSN, Catholic Charities and Sonoma County Community Development Commission to collaborate with 33 Sonoma County Service Providers to increase training access.”
Danielle Hanson, Development & Training Manager, Community Support Network

“Through the support of community partners like the Sonoma County Vintners Foundation, Fire Forward is building a skilled workforce of professional fire practitioners ready to fill fire management positions, creating a culture of land stewardship and increasing resilience against the threat of wildfire.”
Dr. Sasha Berleman, Director, Fire Forward, a program of Audubon Canyon Ranch

“Thank you to Sonoma County Vintners Foundation for a generous grant to Cinnabar Theater supporting the Youth Programs in our Young Repertory division. The grant enabled us to offer 10 scholarships to deserving youth to attend our Musical Theater Summer Camp. Much gratitude!”
Diane Dragone, Executive Director, Cinnabar Theater

You Can Make a Difference in Sonoma County

The 2022 Sonoma County Wine Auction will will take place September 17 at Chalk Hill Estate Vineyards & Winery. Named one of the nation’s top charitable wine auctions, proceeds have supported more nonprofits than any other fundraising event in Sonoma County. Preview the live auction lots and purchase tickets to attend at sonomacountywineauction.com.

In addition, the SCWA Online Auction will be open from September 14-20, 2022 for anyone to bid and make a difference from anywhere in the world. Online lots will be available for viewing and registration for bidding the week prior; stay tuned by following Sonoma County Vintners or #SCWA on Facebook or Instagram for access to lots offered exclusively online.

Learn more about SCVF or make a donation at sonomawine.com/sonoma-county-vintners-foundation/. Anyone can choose Sonoma County Vintners Foundation as chosen charity on Amazon Smile, where 0.5% of eligible Amazon purchases will be donated to SCVF. See full details at smile.amazon.com.

Download beneficiary photos to accompany the quotes included in this press release, photo credit included in image names where applicable. Additional photos and quotes available upon request.

Petaluma Education Foundation video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dG3HQx-nE1c.

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About Sonoma County Vintners Foundation
Sonoma County Vintners Foundation provides support to the local community through philanthropy and charitable giving. Sonoma County Vintners Foundation (SCVF) is an accredited 501c(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1988. Its purpose is to consistently support local nonprofit organizations that address issues within the Sonoma County community. SCVF cultivates a vibrant and diverse Sonoma County by elevating lives through charitable events and philanthropic giving. Fundraising efforts have a direct impact in the areas of education & literacy, health & human services, the environment and arts & culture. With SCVF’s many initiatives including the Emergency Relief Fund, the organization is able to impact all needs, ranging from the immediate to the long term. Learn more at sonomawine.com/foundation.

About Sonoma County Wine Auction
Sonoma County Wine Auction brings the region’s renowned winemakers and growers together with distinguished collectors and generous bidders for an opportunity to acquire some of Sonoma County’s top wines and bid on once-in-a-lifetime travel experiences. Named one of the nation’s top charitable auctions by Wine Spectator, the proceeds raised benefit local Sonoma County charitable organizations. Since its inception, Sonoma County Wine Auction has raised millions of dollars to help fund charitable organizations focusing on education & literacy, health & human services, the environment and arts & culture, and has supported more nonprofits than any other fundraising event in Sonoma County. Learn more at sonomacountywineauction.com.

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