OVER $385K GROSSED FOR THE WOODEN FLOOR AT 13TH ANNUAL WINE TASTING BENEFIT

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (September 20, 2019) – Nearly 300 guests gathered at the 13th Annual Keep the Promise Wine Tasting Benefit at Big Canyon Country Club on September 12, 2019, in support of The Wooden Floor, one of the nation’s foremost creative youth development nonprofits with a 15-year track record of sending 100% of its low-income graduates to college. As one of Orange County’s premier wine tasting benefit, the evening grossed over $385,000 with more gifts anticipated for the organization. Over the past 13 years, the benefit has netted more than $3 million to support The Wooden Floor’s goal of transforming young people in low-income communities through the power of dance and access higher education.

More than 200 bottles of 12 of the world’s top 1-3% wines—with an overall average of 97+ points for the entire tasting—were uncorked throughout the evening, including the 99 point 2005 Anakota Cabernet Sauvignon Helena Montana Vineyard from Sonoma, CA and the 99 point 2010 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc from Bordeaux, France. All of the wines at the benefit were hand-selected over the period of several years and generously donated by Newport Beach residents Janice and John Markley, long-time and fervent supporters of The Wooden Floor. As wine aficionados, the Markley’s founded the benefit in 2007 as a way to use their appreciation of wine to raise funds for the actively-growing organization. 

Under candlelight in Big Canyon’s richly-appointed clubhouse, guests sampled small plates of Belgian Endive Spears with Tuna Poke, Slow Roasted BBQ Beef Brisket Sliders, Chicken Ropa Vieja Empanadas with Salsa, Baked Fig and Mascarpone Phyllo Purses, Plantain Tartlets with Picadillo, Steamed Shrimp and Pork Shao Mai, and Grilled Pork Satay with Peanut Sauce. As guests made their way through the benefit, more stations were filled other stunning global fare created by Executive Chef Nick Wynn with the guidance of Master Sommelier Steven Poe in order to complement the wine selections, including a cheese and charcuterie station filled with a selection of Italian meats and cheese, a raw bar and sushi bar with Alaskan snow crab claws, shucked oysters, and jumbo shrimp cocktails, and a pasta bar including Wagyu beef ravioli with truffles and sweet corn polenta ravioli. Designed by The Fashionable Event, guests enjoyed a contemporary twist to a rustic setting that was reminiscent of an evening in a Tuscany winery. The space was filled with florals designed by Newport Beach florist, French Buckets, with accent greenery, and olive branches, as well as Napa wine crates and modern white vases filled with various floral arrangements of white roses, yellow roses, yellow poppies, hydrangeas, and dates.

The crowd-favorite blind tasting competition winner, Monica Grubin, correctly guessed 8 wines out of 12 and won a selection of the night’s featured wines. Other items up for grabs included Opportunity Drawings for: a Hermès Paris gift basket filled with gorgeous accessories valued at over $3,000; a collection of red wine magnums; a collection of white wine magnums; and a sophisticated $500 dining experience at Mastro’s Steakhouse. Silent auction items included: a four-night stay at a luxury cabin in Promontory, Utah; four tickets to an Anaheim Ducks game that includes Anaheim Ducks-branded wine gear; a private five-course wine dinner for 10; as well as sports and arts experiences.

The Wooden Floor’s successful outcomes, poised students, and returning alumni speaking in support of the organization, were the main focal point of the night. The highlight of the evening came from The Wooden Floor’s student speaker Miguel Cid-Rosas, who credits The Wooden Floor’s programs and community for fostering his future aspirations of attending University of Notre Dame and majoring in biology for a career in orthopedic medicine. “The kindness and respect that emanates from every single one of my peers inspires me to continue working hard and hope that maybe someday I will be able to give back to those who have helped me along the way,” Miguel said, “The Wooden Floor has become a second family for me and my siblings, they are something I extremely cherish and would not trade for anything.” Remarks were also made by Keep the Promise Honorary Co-Chair John Markley, The Wooden Floor incoming Board Chairwoman Judy Posnikoff, and CEO of The Wooden Floor Dawn S. Reese, who stated, “We believe when dance is used as a means of social change, innovation flourishes into courageous life-changing outcomes for the children, and moves The Wooden Floor’s exciting mission forward which helps move our community forward.”

2019 Keep the Promise Sponsors                                 

Premier: Joan & Don Beall; Sharon & Terry Hartshorn; Ginnie & Rich Hunsaker; Janice & John Markley

Gold Medal: The Hughes Family; Yvonne & Damien Jordan; Judith Posnikoff; Smith Group Real Estate; Nancy & Geoffrey Stack Family Foundation; Mary & Gary Tolar; Julie & Justin Wilson; Nancy & Arn Youngman

Silver Medal: Anaheim Ducks & Honda Center; Capital Group; Michele & Joe Chatelle; The Ezralow Company; First Republic Bank; Frome Family Foundation; Adele & Bryan Green; Teri & Alan Hoops; Hydraflow - Ayloush Family; Jehan Jayakumar-Carlson & Jayakumar LLP; Doug & Paula Neff; Newmark Realty Capital; Ginger & Arthur Ong; Jon Lash & Shelly Sandoval; Peter & Carolyn Shea; John Sutton; Thompson Family Foundation; MUFG Union Bank; Anonymous

Bronze Medal: Theresa & Jonathon Allen; Karin Krogius & Scott Mason; Monica & Jim Meacham; Kassie & Greg Richardson; Simon Foundation for Education & Housing

Copper Medal: Denise & Keith Banning; Brookfield Residential; C&C Development; Commercial Bank of California; Edna & Richard Cole; Philip Doolittle; Ruchika Garga; Johnna & Don Grant; Greystar; Marquita & Jack Gyben; Sue & Peter Hitch; Diane Koch & Jeff Randolph; Sandy & Charlie McLaughlin; Donna Neff; Nicholas Pardon; Bonnie & Dan Platt; Rutan & Tucker, LLP; Jeff & Stacy Stone; Jana Turner; Anonymous; Beth Wolfe & Bob McCarter

About The Wooden Floor                                    

Founded in 1983, The Wooden Floor is one of the foremost creative youth development nonprofit organizations in the country. We transform the lives of young people in low-income communities through the power of dance and access to higher education. In Orange County and through national licensed partners, we use a long-term approach grounded in exploratory dance education to foster the confidence and gifts within each child to innovate, communicate, and collaborate – skills necessary for success in school and in life. 100 percent of students who graduate from The Wooden Floor immediately enroll in higher education. Our students become change agents and beacons of hope within their own families, their neighborhoods, our community, and our world. www.TheWoodenFloor.org 

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Photos from the 13th Annual Keep the Promise Wine Tasting Benefit

Cheat Tweets

“Over $385K raised for low-income students during O.C.’s premier wine tasting benefit, Keep the Promise, for Santa Ana-based creative youth development nonprofit The Wooden Floor.”

“Over $385K raised at Orange County’s premier wine tasting benefit for The Wooden Floor in support of transforming young people in low-income communities through the power of dance and access to higher education.”

“13th year in a row where O.C.’s premier wine tasting benefit Keep the Promise raises funds for The Wooden Floor, a nonprofit that transforms young people in low-income communities through the power of dance and access to higher education.”

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