2019
SUPPORTING THE N E X T G E N E R AT I O N
Annual Auction Dinner The event featured numerous wine luminaries, including Meridith May of The Tasting Panel Magazine and SOMM Journal; Jordan Fiorentini of Epoch; Nicole Pope of Stolo; Adrienne Ferrara of Clesi; Cynthia Lohr of J. Lohr; and Clarissa Nagy of Riverbench. The event was emceed by Cara Crye, CEO of Farm Supply Co. and Gina Fitzpatrick, CEO of the Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce.
NOVEMBER 19, 2019
BY KRISTIN MUHLY & SEAN WEIR
P
aso Robles, CA—The second annual Dream Big Dinner, Auction & Concert lived up to its name, raising more than $120,000 for Dream Big Darling—a Paso Robles-based nonprofit whose mission is to foster the success of women in the wine and spirits industry through mentorship, education, life enhancement and professional retreats.
Keynote speakers included WittstromHiggins; musician Jade Jackson; and recent Dream Big Darling Leadership retreat attendees Justin Trabue, Nancy Gonzalez and Kate Edgecombe.
“The entire evening was blessed with a spirit of generosity,” said Amanda Wittstrom-Higgins, founder of Dream Big Darling. “People see that we are making a difference, and they want to help us pay it forward. We could not be more grateful.”
Proceeds from the auction will fund Dream Big Darling’s 2020 professional events and second annual Dream Big Darling Leadership Retreat next fall.
Held at Santa Margarita Ranch in the Paso Robles wine country on October 25, the event was attended by 175 guests and was punctuated with a lively auction featuring a remarkable roster of auction items, including two Kawasaki Mule ProFXT Ranch Edition offroad vehicles; an Alexander Clancy Italian leather handbag; a Lady Gaga concert package experience in Las Vegas; and a hosted deer hunt at Santa Margarita Ranch. The generosity was amplified when local vintner Jerry Lohr donated $8,000 toward Dream Big Darling scholarships to the upcoming Wine Speak Paso Robles trade event.
$120,000 FUNDS RAISED
The inaugural leadership retreat in September was a sign of things to come for Dream Big Darling, with scholarship winners enjoying a transformative professional experience that gained high marks from all involved. The next Dream Big Darling Leadership Retreat will be held virtually on October 22-23, 2020. Dream Big Darling also offered six all-access scholarships to Wine Speak 2020, a premier industry summit that took place on January 14-16 in the Paso Robles wine country.
175 AT T E N D E E S
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AUCTION
LOTS SOLD
