Walla Walla Valley Wineries Make Significant Contribution to Fundraiser for Seattle Children’s Hospital
As a follow-up to the recently completed Auction of Washington Wines 25th Anniversary celebration, which supports uncompensated care at Seattle Children’s Hospital, Auction organizers revealed that thirty-one (31) Walla Walla Valley wineries contributed over $237,000 in cash and funds generated from donations to the auction. This figure represents slightly more than the amount ($234,279) of uncompensated care that was provided for 203 patient visits provided by Seattle Children’s in the Walla Walla Valley. Auction monies were raised through a variety of live and silent auction items, along with special winemaker dinners.
According to Duane Wollmuth, executive director, Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance, “these figures continue to show the behind the scenes significant contributions made by our Valley’s winemaking community. For 2011, we estimated that the Valley’s wineries contributed a year’s total of over $1.9 million to charitable causes, and nearly $850,000 in the Walla Walla Valley alone.”
Wineries donate to charities in many different ways, including cash, wine, winemaker dinners, special tours, private tastings, art, merchandise, and other experiences. As Wollmuth states, “the contributions made to the Auction of Washington Wines illustrates both the camaraderie among our wineries and the values they share. Our wineries often join together to create auction packages that are unique and also garner top dollar donations.” To illustrate, as part of the Auction of Washington Wines event three of Walla Walla’s founding winery couples, Gary and Nancy Figgins of Leonetti Cellar, Rick and Darcey Small of Woodward Canyon, and Marty and Megan Clubb of L’Ecole No 41, joined together with Canlis Restaurant in Seattle to raise $29,600 from a special Walla Walla Founders Dinner.
Seattle Children’s Hospital is ranked as one of the best children’s hospitals in the country by U.S. News & World Report. Serving the largest landmass of any children’s hospital in the country (Washington, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho), Seattle Children’s continues its’ long legacy of benefitting children across all parts of Washington State.
The Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance is a non-profit wine industry membership organization whose primary mission is the marketing of the Walla Walla Valley’s American Viticultural Area (AVA). The Wine Alliance functions as the leading informational resource for consumers, media and trade interested in learning more about the Valley’s wine industry. More information about the Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance can be found at www.wallawallawine.com.
