Even during trying economic times, vintner/philanthropist Bruce Cohn and B.R. Cohn Charity Events distributed $150,000 to a variety of charities on December 18 at a wine tasting mixer at the B.R Cohn Winery in Glen Ellen, Calif.
The proceeds were generated by the 22nd annual B.R. Cohn Charity Events Fall Music Festival and Celebrity Golf Classic. The two concerts on October 4 and 5, the Golf Classic on October 6, and the live auction/dinner on October 3 raised much-needed money for both local charities and veterans’ services.
Over four years, the winery has raised more than $1 million in donations for numerous charities. This year, the proceeds are earmarked for the Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance, the Sonoma Valley Education Foundation, the Boys and Girls Club (Valley of the Moon) and other deserving charities.
The lineup for both concerts featured the Doobie Brothers, Kris Kristofferson, Dave Mason, Robert Cray, the Turtles, Michael Finney and Doobie Brothers offspring Lara Johnston.
Over the last 22 years, the B.R Cohn Charity Events Fall Music Festival and Celebrity Golf Classic have donated more than $2 million to various children’s charities and others.
The Friday night gala auction and dinner at the B.R Cohn Winery is becoming quite a fundraiser on its own, and despite an October rain shower raised $100,000 at a 400-seat dinner. The concert on-stage auctions over the weekend added additional revenue for the charities, with autographed guitars and 9-liter B.R Cohn wine bottles leading the charge.
“I’m very pleased — despite everything thrown at us, including inclement weather and the faltering economy — that we pulled off this amount of money,” noted Bruce Cohn. “It is important to note that this couldn’t happen without the support of all the musicians, volunteers and staff that put these events together.”
The 23rd annual B.R. Cohn Charity Events Fall Music Festival and Celebrity Golf Classic will be held October 2-5, with the charity auction at the B.R. Cohn Winery on October 2, concerts scheduled for the 3rd and 4th, and the golf classic at Sonoma Golf Club on the 5th.
After May 1, those interested in attending may log on to brcohn.com for all of the 2009 event information.
