This year’s Central Coast & Beyond Wine Tasting and Auction Fundraiser will take place on Saturday, April 21st, 2012 2:30pm to 5:00pm, with a limited VIP reception from 1:30pm – 2:30pm, at the Pacific Palisades Lutheran Church, 15905 Sunset Boulevard in Pacific Palisades.
“We are very excited to partner with the Optimists,†said Chamber President Greg Wood. “Peter Scolney has worked very hard to build this event over the past seven years. When we approached him to potentially partner with the Optimists he agreed that it would be a win win all around. A win for the Optimists, by introducing the event to nearly 400 chamber members, will increase attendance and ultimately funds for their scholarship grant fund. And a win for the chamber and its members, by providing a venue for our members to highlight their businesses in the silent auction and/or sponsorships,†Wood continued.
Because of his personal interest in wines, Wood is able to provide some new ideas to this event. “I’ve been a student of enology, (the science and study of all aspects of wine and winemaking except vine-growing and grape-harvesting) for over three decades,†Wood explained. “I’ve made many friends in the business who are willing to donate some wines to this event to add to the outstanding mix of wines the Optimists have assembled.†Over 30 wineries will be represented at the event for tasting, silent auction, and/or live auction at the end of the event.
The event has added a VIP reception which will kick off the event this year. District 11 Councilman Bill Rosendahl will attend the event again this year. Other special guests include principals of Palisades Charter High School and Paul Revere Middle School.
Wood was also successful in securing Sodexo, Pali High’s food service provider and a leading provider of integrated food and facilities management services in the U.S., as an event sponsor. Sodexo will be serving appetizers at both the VIP reception and the general admission event.
In addition to the VIP reception, wine tasting and silent auction, the event will culminate with a live auction of wines, which will begin at 5p.
The organizations anticipate up to 400 guests this year.
Tickets: [advance general admission is $50 per person, $40 each for groups of four or more and $75 per person for a limited number of VIP participants, advance purchase only for both group and VIP tickets. General admission at the door the day of the event is $60.]
Tickets are available at: www.palitasting2012.eventbrite.com
Or at the Chamber’s office, 15330 Antioch Street in Pacific Palisades.
The Palisades Optimist Foundation’s primary objective is to raise funds to enrich and improve the quality of life in Pacific Palisades, California, including, without limitation, the educational environment for students at Palisades Charter High School (“School†). The School’s academic excellence attracts students from over 100 zip codes in the Los Angeles area and recently developed its’ own transportation program to increase access for students residing in less advantaged neighborhoods.
Scholarships from the Foundation go to students who are not the recipients of any other awards and who meet requirements in all three of the following categories:
Financial need
Scholastic improvement
Community service
The scholarships offer motivation for the students to take charge of their lives and become productive and responsible adults. For the past several years, the Foundation has increased the scholarship grants from $1,000 to $2,000. The Foundation has a modest endowment of approximately $25,000. Each year, the Foundation seeks to increase its endowment in addition to awarding the scholarship grants. The goal is to grow the endowment so that these grants will be substantial (i.e., in the $10,000 range).
The Foundation is supported by the Pacific Palisades Optimist Club, by donations from businesses in the community, by donations from residents of the community, and by the proceeds from its annual fundraising wine tasting and auction.
All proceeds from this year’s Central Coast and Beyond Wine Tasting and Auction will benefit the Palisades Optimist Foundation Scholarship Fund, youth activities, and local community projects.
For more information on the Chamber: www.palisadeschamber.com
