Manhattan Beach Gears up for Wine Auction; Silent Auction Opens
Jun 06, 2024 09:56PM ● By Mb News Staff
Manhattan Beach is gearing up for its biggest and splashiest social event of the year: the Manhattan Wine Auction. This year's sold-out event will bring more than 2,200 guests to the Manhattan Country Club to raise critical funding for the Manhattan Beach Education Foundation (MBEF) and the Manhattan Beach public schools.
This year, the Manhattan Wine Auction celebrates its 30th anniversary. The first wine auction was held in 1995 and included 10 restaurants, 15 wineries, and 21 live lots. The 2024 event features 50 restaurants, 80 wineries, breweries, and distilleries, 23 live lots and more than 400 silent auction items.
While the Manhattan Wine Auction has grown significantly over the past 30 years, its purpose has remained the same: to raise funds to ensure that Manhattan Beach public schools offer programs that enrich and empower students on their academic journey. This year's fundraising efforts will be particularly meaningful as the school district faces budget cuts and teacher layoffs.
In recognition of that need, this year’s paddle raise is dedicated to bringing educators who inspire
students back to the classroom. Every dollar raised will go directly to
fund educator positions for the 2024-2025. The paddle raise will be held
live on Saturday night, but paddle raise donations can be made here at any time.
“Every year, this community’s
generosity inspires us to reach new heights," said Jake Dax, who is returning for his second year as the
wine auction's event chair. "We are building community,
supporting our schools, and having fun doing it.”
Live and Silent Auctions Feature Unique Items
In addition to the paddle raise, the wine auction features a silent and a live auction.
This year's silent auction is now open to all for bidding; even those who are unable to attend the event can still participate. The silent auction features special getaways, sports items, beauty and health packages, offerings from local businesses, and more. In addition, the auction will include more than 750 bottles of wine donated by members of the community and wineries from throughout California and beyond.
The live auction, which will take place at the event
on Saturday night, consists of a variety one-of-a-kind offerings,
including a collection of 30 bottles of wine, one vintage each from the
last 30 years (1994-2023); an exclusive seven-day getaway to New Zealand
with a stay in the heart of Auckland and The Landing Wines vineyard; premier concert tickets; unique sporting packages; a private charter
to a VIP experience at Stanly Ranch Auberge in Napa; and a VIP weekend
at the AT&T Pebble Beach Celebrity Pro-Am.
A live version of the paddle raise will take place during the live auction.
John Oshiro To Be Recognized
At this year’s event, MBEF will recognize John Oshiro as the recipient of the 2024 Legacy Award. Oshiro has led by example serving in various capacities as a MBEF board member, a member of the Wine Advisory Board, a three-time wine auction chair, and an ongoing supporter of MBEF’s IT needs as a volunteer. In addition to volunteering his time and talents, MBEF estimates that he and his wife Jeanne have donated over 850 bottles of wine to the Manhattan Wine Auction over the past 25 years.
“At the heart of the wine auction are the incredible volunteers and committee members who spend countless hours coordinating this colossal effort, all in support of our schools and students. [Oshiro] is representative of this authentic commitment to education.” said Hilary Mahan, executive director of MBEF.
MBEF and the Manhattan Wine Auction
The Manhattan Beach Education Foundation is a community driven fundraising organization, supplementing state funding for programs that inspire learning, enrich teaching, and promote innovation and academic excellence in the public schools of Manhattan Beach. In the 2023-24 school year, MBEF granted over $6.1 million to MBUSD.
All proceeds from the Manhattan Wine Auction benefit the MBEF Endowment Fund, which provides MBEF with a continuing and sustainable funding source, helping to make up for the volatility of state funding. The endowment’s annual contribution to MBEF’s programs in the 2023-24 school year was $1.1 million, accounting for 19% of MBEF’s overall grant to the district.
The wine auction is the culmination of thousands of hours of volunteer
time from those who secure the commitments of the wineries and
restaurants, curate auction lots that span from rare wines to
one-of-a-kind experiences and bring the event together on the final day.
The wine auction's founding sponsors are Chevron and The Manhattan Country Club. The Bay Club continues to be a key partner as the inaugural host and provides significant support to ensure the continued success of the event.
