Rotary Wine Tasting Fundraiser Packs Mira Vista

The Rotary Club of El Cerrito appears to have hit on a successful formula for its annual fundraiser – a wine tasting reception at the Mira Vista Golf and Country Club.

Sunday afternoon featured the third one so far, and club members said it was the best turn-out yet as the crowd packed the large lodge-like meeting hall of the hilltop county club and enjoyed fine Northern California wines, along with artisan chocolate and cheese.

This year's event raised funds for Foster A Dream, a 10-year-old Bay Area organization focused on supporting and transforming the lives of foster youth.

"We're excited," said Kim Castaneda, executive director of Foster A Dream.

"We're totally community funded," she said, explaining that the organization receives no government funding. "Events like this are important for us."

A number of raffle prizes – topped by dinners at Chez Panisse restaurant in Berkeley and the Michelin-star Commis in Oakland – were given to lucky holders of tickets sold by the arms' length by members of the El Cerrito High Interact Club.

New this year was live music from the El Cerrito High jazz combo, whose polished playing and tempered volume seemed to have made a significant contribution to the high spirits and festive atmosphere of the occasion.

Rotarian Sonja Givens-Thomas, who staffed the admission-ticket table, estimated that this year's event sold far in excess of 150 tickets, and club fundraising director Karen Nierlich said she was confident that the number exceeded the 175 who attended the wine tasting last year. This year's total had not yet been counted, they said.

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