Deborah McKeehan named head of Winegrowers Foundation Deborah McKeehan named head of Winegrowers Foundation (September 02, 2005)

Kent, Wente to head auction, golf tourney

Deborah McKeehan, President of East Bay Operations for Embarcadero Publishing which publishes the Pleasanton Weekly and Danville Weekly, has been named president of the Livermore Valley Winegrowers Association Foundation.

In the newly expanded position, McKeehan will have responsibility for the foundation's two main charitable groups: its children's charity which derives its principal income from the annual San Francisco Bay Auction, and its annual charity golf tournament. Winemaker Darcie Kent will head up the San Francisco Bay Auction, and Phil Wente has been named chair of the popular annual golf tournament.

This year's 11th annual auction raised a record-high $279,000 for local charities, including $72,000 in special bids that went to the Oakland East Bay Symphony with the remainder of the funds split among ValleyCare Medical Center's pediatrics unit, the Taylor Family Foundation and the Hope Hospice children's bereavement program in the Tri-Valley.

Next year, the Livermore Valley Wine Country golf championship will host the PGA Nationwide Tour at the Course at Wente as part of a PGA charities tournament. McKeehan said an estimated 30,000 are expected to participate in the event as players, assistants and guests, a gathering that would have an estimated $5 million economic impact on the Tri-Valley.

McKeehan also serves on the board of directors of the Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce and ValleyCare Health System. She is the former City Manager of Pleasanton. -Jeb Bing

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