Encinitas Rotary Charity Wine Festival raises over $100K for children, community
The annual Encinitas Rotary Wine & Food Festival has become a popular mainstay event in the community. In its 13th year, the festival supports charities, whose local or international focus is on children or the community. This year the festival was held for the first time on the second hole of the Encinitas Ranch Golf Course. Over $104,000 was raised for the 18 participating charities. Recipients were awarded their checks at a special Encinitas Rotary Club presentation on Aug. 17. During the ceremony, each beneficiary gave a short description of the work they do and how the funds will be used.
Event co-chair Rich Houk said, “We received such a positive response to our evening of food, wine, music and a stunning venue. Nineteen wineries, five breweries and 26 local restaurants provided all food and drink at no charge. Our thanks to the Encinitas Ranch Golf Course, our sponsors, our many volunteers and all our guests. Our beneficiaries sell the tickets, and we orchestrate the event. Our Wine Festival has grown from 300 guests to now over 1,000 guests annually. Over our 13 years, we’ve raised over $1 million for our charities. And a special thanks to major sponsors Bixby Zane and the John & Mary Rainsford Foundation.”
Encinitas Rotary Club President Greg Day added, “Rotary is an international service organization driven by the motto of Service Above Self. Our club members have put in hundreds of hours of volunteer time to make the Wine Festival a success, and this is just one of the many ways we serve our community.”
The beneficiaries of this year’s festival included: North County Lifeline, Pacific Southwest Community Development Corporation, Rancho Coastal Humane Society, Magdalena Ecke Family YMCA, San Dieguito Heritage Museum, San Diego North Coast Singers, Mexican-American Educational Guidance Association, La Costa Canyon Music Boosters, Military Musters, Jonathan Tarr Foundation, Intrepid Theatre Company, Encinitas Educational Foundation, Encinitas Historical Society, Cardiff Soccer League, Encinitas Rotary Foundation, Diegueno Middle School Band Boosters, Friends of Joshua in Malawi and Solana Beach Eco Rotary.
For more information about the Rotary Club of Encinitas, visit www.encinitasrotary.com.
For more information about the Wine Festival, visit www.encinitaswinefestival.com or contact event co-chair Sandy Houk at 760-753-1977.