Auction of Washington Wines is hosting several fundraising events in August that will directly benefit Washington State University’s Department of Viticulture and Enology (V&E).
On Aug. 10, the nonprofit is hosting TOAST!, a seated dinner and celebration recognizing honorees including WSU Viticulture Professor Michelle Moyer and V&E alumna Becca De Kleine, who were named as Emerging Leaders. On Aug. 11, WSU Blended Learning wines will be featured at the Winemaker Picnic and Barrel Auction, which includes 100 wineries. Then, on Aug. 12, Auction of Washington Wines will be hosting its Gala, a formal affair with a live auction. There will also be a Gala Online Auction running Aug. 8-12.
For decades, the Auction of Washington Wines has partnered with WSU to fund wine science research, ensuring that V&E faculty can continue critical work on globally applicable projects.
In addition to the upcoming auctions, the wine organization recently agreed to back two established V&E student funds, marking a new era of partnership.
“I’m excited our philanthropic partner, Auction of Washington Wines, shares our values related to prioritizing undergraduate and graduate education alongside research,” said V&E Department Chair Jean Dodson Peterson. “These avenues of support give us a reliable pipeline of funding for students in financial need as well as the ability to offer new opportunities for learning in innovative environments.”
The Auction of Washington Wines is contributing $25,000 to WSU’s V&E Student Support Fund, which directly expedites emergency financial aid to students experiencing life crises that could cause them to drop out of the program. The organization is also giving $25,000 to the V&E Experiential Learning Fund, which provides support for field trips and other learning opportunities that offer students a more comprehensive understanding of the wine industry.
“I’m thrilled that we will be supporting these new student funds and helping our donors understand the importance of contributing to these causes,” said Auction of Washington Wines Executive Director Jamie Peha. “Our partnership with WSU is strong, and we’re looking forward to supporting the V&E department this year and beyond. The future is in these students.”
Since its founding in 1988, the Auction of Washington Wines has raised nearly $60 million to support the growth of Washington’s wine industry. In addition to providing financial support, the Auction of Washington Wines serves as an influential voice for WSU wine science research, allowing the V&E department to reach people it might not typically encounter.
“Through Auction of Washington Wines, WSU V&E is able to make connections with an audience beyond our typical reach,” Dodson Peterson said. “This empowers us to more impactfully share how the advances to come out of the Ste. Michelle Estates Wine Science Center, the Ravenholt Teaching Vineyard, and the Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center support the state of Washington’s wine and grape industry.”
