- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On
‘Wine and Chocolate’ returns Feb. 2; popular event offers a ‘party with a cause’
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Volunteers and staff with the Lake Family Resource Center are in the final busy weeks of preparations for the “Wine and Chocolate” fundraiser, which supports the center’s many important social programs.
The 12th Wine and Chocolate will take place from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 2, at Mt. Konocti Winery and Event Center, 2550 Big Valley Road, between Kelseyville and Lakeport.
As of Thursday, 20 wineries had signed on to participate, with 11 local restaurants to provide the “bites,” organizers reported. Two local breweries also will be pouring beer.
Sommelier Stephanie Green will once again offer a wine sensory class and there also will be olive oil tasting, plus raffles and an auction featuring a wide variety of items, from art to wine to gift certificates.
It’s a party with a cause, offering critical support for programs that assist Lake County’s most vulnerable, according to Lake Family Resource Center Executive Director Lisa Morrow.
The event wasn’t held last year. It was initially rescheduled from its normal February time frame to March 17 by then-Executive Director Jennifer Dodd. Four days before the event date, Dodd announced that Wine and Chocolate was being canceled, offering no explanation as to why.
The cancellation was greeted with dismay by community members, who have come to enjoy the event’s mix of local food and wine that directly benefits important services for area residents.
Morrow, who took over as Lake Family Resource Center’s executive director in April, said Wine and Chocolate is a significant fundraiser for the organization, annually raising between $20,000 and $25,000, and welcoming between 450 and 600 people.
“Not having it hurt quite a bit,” said Morrow.
Under Morrow’s leadership, Lake Family Resource Center moved forward with bringing Wine and Chocolate back.
Morrow said the reception she’s received regarding reintroducing Wine and Chocolate has been very positive.
Heading up the seven-member committee that’s guiding the event are Gail Salituri and Flora Krasnovsky, who both have longtime associations with Lake Family Resource Center, as both are former board members. In addition, Salituri, a well-known artist, has aided the event for years by donating a large amount of artwork.
They said that, in July, the volunteers and staff kicked off the planning meetings for this year’s event, an effort which was slowed a bit when, two weeks later, the Mendocino Complex began. Meetings continued but picked up steam in the fall, once the fire danger was past.
Salituri and Krasnovsky have been joined in their efforts by Barbara Szal, who has helped bring in more sponsors and donations.
On Tuesday, as Krasnovsky, Morrow and Salituri met at Lake Family Resource Center’s Kelseyville offices, local resident Susan Cameron and Susan Blair of Santa Rosa stopped by to donate a quilt made by Blair that shows Clear Lake and Mt. Konocti.
New this year is the sponsor room. So far 10 tables have been sold in that room, with more tickets available, Morrow said.
Morrow said there is less than 10 percent overhead, so that 90 percent of event proceeds go to support all of the center’s programs.
Lake Family Resource Center’s programs include its Freedom House domestic violence shelter and the domestic violence assistance program, teen parenting, differential response/child abuse prevention intervention and treatment, rape crisis services, behavioral health services, Early Head Start, housing stability and transitional housing, Cal-Hope and business services for other small nonprofits.
Donations will be accepted through the weekend. Call the center at 707-279-0563 for more information.
Presale tickets are $60 per person, with tickets at the door costing $70 each.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the Lake Family Resource Center Web site.
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