Inaugural Santa Monica-Malibu Wine Auction Raises $115,000 for Local Public Schools

Presented by Dun & Bradstreet, Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows/MSD Capital, Kaiser Permanente and Santa Monica Place/Macerich, the event proceeds support programs at all Santa Monica and Malibu Public Schools.

The Santa Monica-Malibu Education Foundation (SMMEF) is excited to announce that the inaugural Santa Monica-Malibu Wine Auction, held on Sunday, April 17, raised more than $115,000 to fund programs for students in the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District. Over 400 guests attended the sold-out event at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows, the event’s sponsor hotel in Santa Monica. Attendees enjoyed food and wine tastings from 35 local restaurants and beverage purveyors as well as live, silent and online auctions. More photos from the day are on the SMMEF Facebook page. “We are overjoyed with the success of this inaugural event,” said Kathleen Rawson, President of the SMMEF Board of Directors. “The beautiful location, wonderful food and wine, and exciting auction lots created a magical evening in support of our schools. On behalf of our students, thank you to the attendees, vendors, sponsors and volunteers who made the Wine Auction a truly outstanding evening.” All proceeds from the Wine Auction benefit SMMEF, which funds programs for every school in the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District. SMMEF-funded staff and programs include arts education for the district’s 4,900 elementary students, 87 instructional assistants, and enrichment grants for all 16 schools in the district. Most schools decide to use these grants to provide programs in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), visual and performing arts, or student wellness. “The generosity our food and wine vendors, along with the commitment of our Corporate Partners, was extraordinary,” said Linda Greenberg, SMMEF Executive Director. “We look forward to their continued partnership as we grow this event over the next several years.” Many local businesses in SMMEF’s Corporate Partner program, which has generated an additional $312,734 for SMMEF-funded programs, were recognized as sponsors of the event. In addition to the presenting sponsors, they include 500 Broadway; Diane Dorin, Compass; DLR Group; FreeAssociates Group, Inc.; Harding Larmore Kutcher & Kozal, LLP; MINI of Santa Monica; NMS Properties, Inc.; RAND Corporation; Santa Monica Daily Press; Sir Speedy Santa Monica; Southern California Edison; Stifel Nicolaus; UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica; Wells Fargo Foundation; Century West Partners, LLC; Fagen Friedman & Fulfrost LLP; Gelson’s, Khedr Management Company; and Southern California Disposal Co., Inc. Participating restaurants at the event included Ashland Hill, Bar Pinxto, BOA, Blue Plate, Border Grill, Caffe Luxxe, FIG, Ingo’s Tasty Diner, Local Kitchen & Wine Bar, Melisse, Michael’s, La Vechhia Cucina, The Lobster, Locando del Lago, Red O, Upper West, Upstairs 2 and Wilshire. Beverage tastings included a featured tasting from The Wine House as well as Ascendant Spirits, Blue Danube Wine, Eric Kent Cellars, Far Niente Wine Estates, Field Recordings, Icelandic Glacial, Jackson Family Wines, Jordan Winery, Joseph Phelps, Justin Vineyards and Winery, Herman Story, Liquid Farm Wines, Martian Ranch & Vineyard, Montage Vineyards, Montagna Cellars, Orin Swift Cellars, The Spire Collection, Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, Stolpman Vineyards, Trefethen Winery, Turnbull Cellars, Union Wine Company, Villa Creek Cellars, and Windrun Chardonnay.