On Sunday April 17 the Laguna Beach Rotary Club held its sixth annual Grapes for Grads Wine Tasting event at Tivoli Too! welcoming a record crowd of over 340 guests and making it the most successful charitable event held by Grapes for Grads to date. Among those in attendance were Laguna Beach Mayor Toni Iseman and fellow city council members Elizabeth Pearson and Kelly Boyd, Laguna Beach Rotary Club President Linda Saville and Rotary 5320 District Governor Johrita Solari.
Grapes for Grads is an annual wine tasting event that raises money to fund scholarships to help students who attend Laguna College of Art + Design (LCAD) and graduates of Laguna Beach High School (LBHS) who are headed to college. The focus is on students who show excellence in academics or art and a strong commitment to community and who may otherwise lack the resources for the very best education.
Dozens of wineries and wine distributors participated in the event making it the largest Grapes for Grads wine tasting event ever. In addition to the wide variety of fine wine vintages the event also touted savory snack plates and desserts provided by K’ya Bistro & Bar. Live music and a commemorative “Happy 80th Birthday to the Laguna Beach Rotary” was performed by Singer Mela Lee and The Alexander Burke Trio who entertained the crowd with their cool Jazz and acrobatics while student artists from LCAD displayed their amazing artistic talents throughout the venue with live demonstrations in painting and sculpture. Attendees also enjoyed shopping the silent auction that had over 50 items including a blown glass bowl donated by famous local artist John Barber. Executive Pastry Chef Lee Smith of the Montage Resort donated an amazing cake creation resembling the Rotary “Gear” Logo. The cake cutting ceremony was performed by Mayor Toni Iseman accompanied by Linda Saville and Johrita Solari while the band sang and the crowd cheered.
A noteworthy 86% recycling diversion rate was achieved through the help of Michele Clark of Waste Management and the cooperation of the Grapes for Grads volunteers. “Good Green Job”
Event sponsors included: Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Doctor’s Ambulance Service, The Kenneth A. Picerne Foundation, K’ya Bistro and Bar, Hill Insurance Agency, Lippa Insurance Services, Schiffer Buus APC, Coldwell banker Laguna Beach, Christopher Tower & Bob Celio, Lauren and Richard Packard, Marine Room Tavern and Super Dave’s Print & Mail.
Committee: Event Co-Chairs Jeffrey Redeker and Stephen Dotoratos, committee members: John L Campbell, Marge Earl, Maggie Hempen, Peter Jones, Helen Maxwell, Dr. Veronica Nice, Kerri Redeker and Tom Simpson.
