Posted by: thepinetree on 02/01/2010 11:18 AM
Updated by: Kim_Hamilton on 02/02/2010 11:22 AM
Expires: 01/01/2015 12:00 AM
CWA Donates $15,000 to Community
CALAVERAS COUNTY - The Calaveras Winegrape Alliance is in the process of donating a record breaking $15,000 to over 30 community organizations, as well as four high school scholarships with funds garnered from the 2009 Calaveras Grape Stomp’s silent and live auctions. “Since we’ve added the live auction themed with ‘experiences,’ we’ve seen a great increase in revenues that we give back to the community,” reports Anna Davies, CWA Executive Director. “We’re thrilled that we have been able to triple our auction proceeds in the last two years.”...
We would also like to welcome The Calaveras Winegrape Alliance as a regular monthly advertiser!
“The Resource Connection Food Bank received a donation from the Calaveras Winegrape Alliance, and we appreciate the fact that they choose the Food Bank to donate to,” said Jeannie Hayward, Food Bank Program Director. “It is groups like the Calaveras Winegrape Alliance that help keep the food bank sustainable. We want them to know that their donation makes a positive difference to our families in need – especially right now.”
The Calaveras Grape Stomp, held annually the first Saturday in October for the past 16 years, brings an estimated 10,000 people together from far and wide celebrating the Calaveras grape harvest and award-winning wines. A wide range of items are generously donated to the auction by businesses and individuals staffed by a team of dedicated volunteers.
The following organizations and institutions will benefit from these efforts: Albert Michelson Elementary School, Angels Camp Museum, Angels Murphys Rotary, Boy Scout Troop #343, Bret Harte High School Football Team, Calaveras Community Foundation, Calaveras County Fair, Calaveras County Farm Bureau (Ag Day), Calaveras Grown, Calaveras County Humane Society, Calaveras Visitors Bureau, Calaveras County Arts Council, Calaveras Senior Center, Columbia College Wine and Culinary Program, Columbia College Viticulture Education Program, Feeney Park Foundation, Feeney Park’s Mr. Frog’s Wild Ride, Friends of the Fair, Grad Night Foundation, Resource Connection Food Bank, Resource Connection Women’s Crisis Center, Jefferson Tanner Memorial Fund, Mark Twain – St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation, Mind Matters, Mountain Ranch Youth Alliance, Murphys Business Association, Murphys Community Club, Murphys Friends, Renewal & Releaf, Seeds of Kindness, Sheriff’s Volunteers, and the Volunteer Center.
Four high school scholarships were awarded in 2009 from proceeds from the 2008 Grape Stomp. Recipients are Kristen Locke of Murphys, Kathleen Gott of Angels Camp, Elizabeth Coon of Valley Springs, and Ryan Hicks-Johnson of San Andreas. The 2009 high school scholarship recipients will be announced in fall of this year, and criteria is currently out to the high schools for applicants. Those applying must have plans to enroll in classes pertaining to a career in any field in the Viticulture or Agriculture industry, have participated in agriculture-type activities in high school, have a grade point average of 2.0 or above, and maintain a minimum of 12 college units per semester.
The Calaveras Wine Association was formed in 1988 as a non-profit organization to represent and market the Calaveras wine industry. In 2005, the Calaveras Wine Association and the Calaveras Grapegrowers Association joined forces and formed the non-profit Calaveras Winegrape Alliance. CWA continues to develop Calaveras County as a destination wine region that honors its unique heritage with marketing, promotional and educational programs. Associate memberships are open to the public for those who are socially interested in being an active partner with the Calaveras County wine industry. Besides the Grape Stomp, CWA hosts a number of festive and educational events including the monthly Wines of the World, and the annual President’s Wine Weekend, Calaveras Winegrape and Gourmet, Passport Weekend and Holiday Festival of Wines, as well as member wine socials. For more information, contact CWA at 728-9467 or visit online at calaveraswines.org.
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