Cincinnati International Wine Festival Donates $169,500

The Cincinnati International Wine Festival, the Midwest’s premier annual wine and food event, has secured more than $169,000 from its 2009 fundraising events. These funds were distributed to 26 local charities in a Check Presentation Ceremony on June 10th at the Kenwood Country Club located in Cincinnati, OH. Amidst a fragile economy, the success of the 2009 festival can be largely attributed to the support of such sponsors as Kroger, Nestle Waters, Pepsi, Diageo Brands and National City now a part of PNC.

To date, the Cincinnati International Wine Festival has donated close to $3 million dollars to local charities. The Festival is composed of 4 major events; Winery Dinners, a Charity Auction & Luncheon, the Grand Tastings and the Russ Wiles Memorial Golf Tournament. The majority of the proceeds are generated from the Grand Tastings, which includes more than 130 winery representatives and 6,000 attendees. The Charity Auction & Luncheon features both a live and silent auction and the Winery Dinners are held at 10 of Greater Cincinnati’s finest restaurants. The Russ Wiles Memorial Golf Tournament, now in its 10th year, takes place at TPC River’s Bend and sells out every year. All of these events are important to the city of Cincinnati as they create an immeasurable economic impact with 26 local charities being the ultimate benefactors.

Charities that benefited this year include: 90.9 FM WGUC, ALS Association, Central & Southern Ohio Chapter, Art Academy of Cincinnati, Art Links, Cancer Family Care, Carnegie Art Center, Catholic Inner-City Schools Education Fund, Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky, Cincinnati Ballet, Cincinnati Works, Conductive Learning Center, Crayons to Computers, Dan Beard Council - Boy Scouts of America, Dress for Success, Emanuel Community Center, Freestore/Foodbank, Hamilton County Special Olympics, Linton Chamber Music Series, May Festival, Midwest Culinary Institute at Cincinnati State, Pregnancy Center East, Ronald McDonald House, Stepping Stones, STOP AIDS, Sudden Infant Death Network of Ohio, and Women Helping Women.

About The Cincinnati International Wine Festival
The Cincinnati International Wine Festival is a 501 (c) (3) charitable, non-profit, fundraising organization established to raise funds and distribute grants in the Greater Cincinnati area for programs in the arts, education, and health and human services. An estimated 115,000 people have participated in the festival’s events since its foundation in 1991. For more information and a complete description of our events, go to our website at www.winefestival.com.