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Willow Park Wines & Spirits 29th Charity Wine Auction, held Oct. 1 at its flagship store in Willow Park Village, was a feast for the senses. The fabulous food, wine, spirits, entertainment, décor and stunning visuals ensured that the hundreds of guests will remember this event for a long time.
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The Neon Dreams-themed celebration, created by Modern Rentals, raised more than $220,000 for the Willow Park Wines & Spirits Vintage Fund, administered by The Calgary Foundation. The fund has donated more than $5 million to charities since its inception.
The focus of the 29th auction was the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation. Its new Center for Children and Youth Mental Health will provide care and access to an outpatient clinic, intensive outpatient therapy and a community day hospital. Calgary Hospice Children’s Grief Support, Calgary Firefighters Burn Treatment Society, Autism Asperger’s Friendship Society of Calgary, Brown Bagging for Calgary Kids, and Alberta Animal Rescue Society are among the other recipients.
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Live auction items like Tinhorn Creek Stay and Play, Vine & Dine Under the Tuscan Sun, Iberian Nights, Okanagan Vineyard Vacation and more earned top dollar thanks to auctioneer Frank Hall of Frank Hall Appraisals and Estate Sales. Other highlights included more than 180 silent auction items and entertainment provided by Scott Jackson and Dr. Draw, Justine Tyrell Duo, hoop artist Kimberly Ilott and the Famous Players Band.
Congratulations to everyone involved in creating such a successful event, including event chairpersons Reid Henuset and his wife Karen.
Guests included: David McLean, Jeremy Gardiner, Scott MacIver and Willie Williams of the Calgary Firefighters Burn Treatment Society; welcoming host Brendan Hunter, who worked on the mirrored entrance; Carlin Donnelly, Tammy Beyeler, Tiffany Corrie and Kathy Rawlyk of Team Tattinger; Rick Bowie of McManes Automotive Group and his wife Jane; Carol Oxtoby of Bar Diamond Holdings and her husband Doug Howland; Cassandra Guerin; St. Supery Estate Vineyards & Winery CEO Emma Swain and Alberta Sales Representative Karin Maslova; StoneBridge Equity Partners Chairman Michael Lang and his wife, Omi Velasco; Craig Leonard of Graphite Ventures; Mark Wilson of Hotel Arts and his wife Kerry; LarryFichtner; interior designer Jerry Chong; CJ Wylie of Studio Wylie; the vice president of the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation, Liz Ballendine; the president of Royal Liquor Merchants, John Dong; Kimberley Nyx; Tracy Silkstone with her daughter Sydney; Haley Benedict; beer magnate Alastair Smart; Linda Robinson of Pacific Wines & Spirits; Willow Park Wines & Spirits founder Wayne Henuset with his wife Liz; Y Willow Park Wines & Spirits President Scott Henuset and his wife, Suzanne Henuset, President of Modern Rentals and Modern Events.
