Wine Auction raises $2.3 million for charities

by OWP Staff

Portland’s Classic Wines Auction last month raised more than $2.3 million to help 42,000 local children and families. Keen Footwear’s President and CEO beat out other bidders for one of the big wins of the evening – a classic 1982 Checker Marathon Taxicab made famous in the television series “Mad” Men and all three Spiderman movies. With colors matching Keen’s yellow and black company logo, Keen won the taxi cab with a $20,000 bid. This was just one of the many lots that helped raise support for families in need through five Portland and SW Washington charities.

The Classic Wines Auction, one of the country’s top five charity wine auctions, continued its steady growth from its beginnings in 1982 when it raised $9,000 to the staggering amount of $2.3 million raised at Saturday night’s auction. The annual week of events included 28 Winemaker dinners held over three evenings, an Ambassadors and awards dinner, and the Gala Auction at the Oregon Convention Center. The five benefiting charities are Metropolitan Family Service, New Avenues for Youth, Friends of the Children, Trillium Family Services and YWCA Clark County. More than 725 guests attended the March 6 event.

“This year’s auction amazed us again with the generosity and compassion for children and families in need in our community,” said Heather Martin, executive director of the Classic Wines Auction. “Sponsors, guests, donors, chefs, winemakers, and volunteers all came together to raise the needed funds for local charities to provide crucial social services.”

For more information about the fundraiser, visit www.classicwinesauction