Wine Down in the Grove

Community support helps keep nonprofit foundations alive.

For the Livermore Area Recreation and Park District Foundation, community support is vital to the success of the organization and its mission to improve the quality of life throughout the district through advocacy, collaboration and financial assistance.

To further its mission and engage with the Livermore community, the LARPD Foundation has organized an inaugural “Wine Down in the Grove” fundraiser as an afternoon of food and fun to support the foundation’s financial goals.

According to foundation trustee and event organizer Evan Banning, the fundraiser will pair wine and beer tastings from local vineyards and breweries with snacks and desserts, while giving ticket holders the opportunity to participate in a silent auction, meet with LARPD rangers to learn about the history of the area and take a walking tour of nearby winery ruins.

“I am so excited about Wine Down in the Grove,” Banning said. “To have this amazing opportunity to support a great cause while enjoying wine, beer and food in the park is something that has never been done before.”

Event proceeds go toward scholarships providing local youth, adults and seniors the funding necessary to participate in the programs offered through LARPD. On average, the LARPD Foundation serves 80 residents per year, but the need for scholarships is growing and the foundation hopes to meet the challenge of providing assistance to the residents in need.

“This event provides a unique opportunity to have a great time and give back to the community,” Banning said. “Scholarships have previously gone to children for swimming lessons or summer camps and for seniors to attend events that connect them to other seniors. We are setting out with the lofty goal of raising $50,000 and hope the community will consider coming out to Wine Down in the Grove to support that effort.”

Sponsors and partners for the event include: Wente Vineyards, LARPD, Souza Belasz, Good Morning Maxwell, Livermore Downtown, Inc., David Furst, Shea Homes, Hoge-Fenton, Darcie Kent Estate Winery, Almost Famous Wine Company, Pennyweight Craft Brewing, Big House Winery and John Evan Cellars, Charles R. Vineyards, Wood Family Vineyards, Charming Fig, Peggy’s Pretzels, Bay House Cakery, Bluebirds Chocolate and Wow Wow Hand-Crafted Lemonade.

Wine Down in the Grove will be at Livermore’s Sycamore Grove Park, 1051 Wetmore Road, from 3-6 p.m. this Saturday (May 21). Tickets, $100, can be purchased at bit.ly/winedowninthegrove. Guests must be at least 21 years old to attend. Visit www.larpd.org/foundation for more information.