Photos by Ken Pagliaro (Ken Pagliaro.com)
The Manhattan Beach Education Foundation hosted the 30th Annual Manhattan Wine Auction on Sunday, June 8. The signature South Bay fundraiser attracted over 2,200 guests and neted nearly $1.4 million for Manhattan Beach public schools.
The Manhattan Country Club, which has hosted the event for its entire history, was transformed with restaurants, wineries, breweries and distilleries circling the perimeter of the club.Love & Salt, The Arthur J, The Strand House, My Favorite Neighbor, The Landing Wines, and Gray Whale Gin were among the providers. The exclusive Reserve Room hosted 500 guests and featured tastings of rare wines from Memento Mori, and Vineyard 7 & 8, and spirits from Tequila Mandala, along with food from Boa Steakhouse and Jemma by Jackson Kalb.
Bands in center court kept guests dancing until the lights went out.
“The Manhattan Wine Auction holds a special place in the hearts of our community members,” said Hilary Mahan, MBEF executive director. “The outpouring of support from the entire community is unmistakable year after year, but this year was particularly special. We are fortunate to live in a community that values high quality education.”
The first Wine Auction was held in 1995 . It included 10 restaurants, 15 wineries, and 21 live lots. This year the event featured 50 restaurants, 80 wineries, breweries, and distilleries, 23 live lots and over 400 silent auction items. While the event has grown, its purpose has remained the same – to raise funds to ensure Manhattan Beach public schools offer programs that enrich and empower students.
The Silent and Live Auctions raised a combined $650,000. A highlight of the evening was the presentation of MBEF’s 2024 Legacy Award to John Oshiro. Oshirio has served in various capacities as an MBEF Board Member, a member of the Wine Advisory Board, and three-time Wine Auction Chair.
“My direct involvement with MBEF and the auction ended in 2009 after my one and only daughter graduated from Costa in 2008,” Oshiro said. “But I continue to donate to the auction and support MBEF. Along the way, I have learned a lot about wines, music, athletic programs, and school funding. I have also made life-long friends with students, parents, teachers, school boards, and City Council members. I don’t know how much time, money, and wine I have given, but I know I have received even more back in sharing once in a lifetime experiences and a fine glass of wine with the best folks in Manhattan Beach.”
Funds raised from the Wine Auction support the MBEF Endowment, which funds school grants. In addition, the Paddle Raise adds a significant funding element directed to current programming. This year’s effort was dedicated to restoring educator positions eliminated by the recent state budget cuts.
“MBEF was founded to promote academic excellence in our public schools, which remains our singular focus,” said event chair Jake Dax. “We are fortunate to have so many people in our community who share our vision, and who support our organization in so many ways.”
“Donors don’t give to institutions; they invest in ideas and people,” Mahan said, “and there is no better example than the Manhattan Wine Auction.” ER
