NorthBay Healthcare Foundation

The 24^th Annual Solano Wine & Food Jubilee, held on April 8, was a resounding success, notes Chris Sweeney, event chairman."The dust has barely settled and yet I am still in awe of the outstanding effort that went into making this year's event such a huge success."

The event was a sell-out, with just over 2,500 people attending, and that means it will certainly become a record-setting year in terms of funds raised for NorthBay Hospice & Bereavement.

"While I have been involved with the Jubilee for many years, this was my first as chairman, and I now have a broader appreciation of the job at hand," Sweeney notes. "Watching all the volunteers and vendors make this 'party of parties' come together was truly amazing. I am already excited about what we can do for the 25th!"

"We are overwhelmed by the response of the community in their support of the Wine & Food Jubilee, and therefore NorthBay Hospice & Bereavement," added Brett Johnson, NorthBay Healthcare Foundation president. "We obviously are very thankful for such support, as it further proves our community is one that truly cares."

Guests who attended the Jubilee were supposed to receive two tickets to the Total Home & Garden Show, but the supply ran short. "For those who did not receive a Total Home & Garden Show ticket, please come to the ticket booth any day of the show - April 15, 16 or 17 - and you will be provided with a free ticket," Johnson says.

On the night of the Jubilee, attendees gathered under the big tents at the Nut Tree, where first they noshed, socialized and then later danced to the music of popular dance band The Time Bandits.

Guests spent the first part of the evening sampling a wide array of wines, brews and tasty foods, poured and plated by representatives from more than 120 vendors. A silent auction, offering items as varied as movie and theater memorabilia, collections of wines, exotic gift baskets, jewelry and collectibles, raised nearly $33,000, according to Mimi Johnson, silent auction chair.

As vendors began to wind down the food and wine portion of the evening, guests were invited to gather around the stage to preview a special 14-minute video that chronicled Gino Goodman's "Dream of a Lifetime." Following that, eager participants waited to hear who would win the $1,000 Nut Tree Shopping Spree and the $20,000 cash raffle. The cash raffle's grand prize of $10,000 went to Carol Klague, while Solomon Hererra won the Nut Tree shopping spree.

Several NorthBay employees also learned they had won cash prizes in the raffle, including Audrey Ritchie, Yonja Arnold, Cyndi Giaquinto, Karyn SanGregory, Mary Hernandez, Kelly Rhodes Poston, and NorthBay Foundation board members Jim Lawrenz, Mike Paulik, Joe Della Zoppa, Noreen O'Regan and Dennis Landis.