Wine Tasting Event

Annual occasion is once again a success

 

Venice--More than 400 people attended the 8th Annual Our Mother's House Wine Tasting Event and Dinner Auction on February 26 at the Plantation Golf and Country Club in Venice. The fundraiser benefited the Catholic Charities program which provides single mothers and their children a safe and secure residential environment in which to achieve self-sufficiency via education, vocational training and personal growth. 

 

Bishop Frank J. Dewane was the special guest for the evening.  Event goers dined on scrumptious fare and were treated to both live and silent auctions.  The Wine Tasting raised over $25,000 to support the program.  More than 45 volunteers from the community worked diligently for months to organize the event according to Our Mother's House Program Director Joyce Scott.  

 

One of these volunteers stands out - Chairperson Jeanne Kavanaugh. As a wife, mother of three, and grandmother of two, Jeanne prides herself in having a “family-first” attitude.  Married for 38 years to her husband, Pat, they have been full-time residents of Florida since 2003.  Two of their children live and work back “home” in Michigan, while their oldest son resides in New Jersey.

 

Jeanne had the opportunity to work with the  Development Office at Children’s Hospital of Michigan.  It was that job in Special Events fundraising that prepared her for accepting the title as the first-ever Chairperson for the Annual Wine Tasting Event and Dinner Auction last year. Inspired by the many mothers and children benefiting from the fundraiser, Jeanne agreed to again chair the 2009 event. 

 

Along with the support of staff and many dedicated volunteers, Jeanne achieved another successful Wine Tasting!  Congratulations to Jeanne and her team! 

Photo #1: Wine Tasting Event Chairperson Jeanne Kavanagh (left) and Our Mother's House Program Director Joyce Scott (center) celebrate with the 50/50 winner Jackie Barrett.

Photo #2: Guest of Honor Bishop Frank Dewane (right) with Our Mother's House Volunteer Cleora Grossi.