The, one of the biggest events in the summer season, brought in hundreds of thousands of dollars in charity contributions during its Labor Day Weekend event last year.
"Sonoma Wine Country Weekend, which sold out last year, has become a wonderful example of the generosity of our Sonoma vintners, grape growers and event attendees,” said Maureen Cottingham, Sonoma Valley Vintners and Growers Alliance Executive Director.
"With our 25 percent increase in funds over last year we're thrilled to improve our contribution in the face of the monumental need that is out there,” said Dan Goldfield of the Sonoma County Vintners Foundation, another producing organization of Wine Country Weekend.
The event usually is held at the near Healdsburg. led to the distribution of $395,385 to 26 area charities and non-profits.
Two of the beneficiaries, the and the Sonoma Valley Hospital Foundation, each received a grant of $73,500, for a total of $147,000 raised from the “Fund-A-Need” lot at the 2011 Sonoma Valley Harvest Wine Auction, one of Sonoma Wine Country Weekend’s flagship events.
Other beneficiaries of grants included area , the Children's Village of Sonoma County, the School Garden Network and many schools and community charities in Sonoma and Santa Rosa.
Over several years, the Sonoma Valley Vintners and Growers Foundation and Sonoma County Vintners Foundation have raised a cumulative total of more than $11 million that has been donated directly to Sonoma County’s non-profit organizations.
The 2012 Sonoma Wine Country Weekend is set for Labor Day Weekend, Aug. 31 – Sept. 2, 2012.
