by Mark McDermott
Saturday evening, the Manhattan Beach Education Foundation hosted the 29th annual Manhattan Wine Auction. The sold-out event, with an attendance of over 2,200 guests, netted $1.3 million for Manhattan Beach public schools.
The Manhattan Country Club was entirely transformed, with over 50 restaurants, 80 wineries, breweries and distilleries circling the perimeter of the club and guest tables at the heart of the action on Center Court. The eateries showcased the South Bay’s finest chefs while wineries were pouring rare and specialty wines in the newly established Reserve Room and at Vineyard Courts throughout the venue.
“The longstanding traditions that span nearly three decades are what bring guests back year after year,” said MBEF Executive Director Hilary Mahan.
“We are so fortunate to live in a community with such an incredible outpouring of support, not only from our parents but from the entire community.”
This year’s event was particularly meaningful as MBEF celebrated its 40th anniversary. In 1983, a small group of parents started the foundation with a few thousand dollars and a commitment to strengthening local public schools at a time when public funding was at an all-time low. MBEF has grown into a multi-million dollar organization that helps to maintain rigorous academics and educational opportunities that would otherwise not be possible with state funding alone. Over its 40-year history, MBEF has donated over $100 million to the Manhattan Beach Unified School District and helped to transform MBUSD into one of the highest achieving districts in the state.
This year’s Platinum Sponsors were Chevron and The Desolation Hotel, with Kirkland & Ellis supporting the Wine Auction as the first-ever Reserve Room Presenting Sponsor. The Bay Club (owner of the Manhattan Country Club), also provided significant financial and logistical support to ensure the continued success of the event.
A highlight of the evening was the presentation of MBEF’s Legacy Award to co-recipients G. Bradford Jones and Joan Hood Jones. Introduced in 2020, the Legacy Award honors individuals, families and businesses who have demonstrated a truly exceptional commitment to the mission of MBEF. Rich Weiss and Roger Spencer, longtime friends of the foundation, presented the award.
“There are no two individuals who independently and jointly, have been so instrumental in our organization’s success and growth over more than three decades,” Weiss said. “Their philanthropic contributions, coupled with their generosity of time and talent, knows no bounds.”
Joan and Brad have served in numerous capacities for MBEF, the MBEF Endowment, the PTAs, and in civic life. During Brad’s tenure, the MBEF Endowment was started with a $10,000 investment and has now reached $23 million and dispersed over $6 million to the schools.
The Wine Auction is an incredible source of community pride and volunteerism, with a committee that works nearly year-round organizing it. Dozens of volunteers on the event committee secured the commitments of the wineries and restaurants, curated auction lots, and brought everything together on the final day.
Jake Dax, this year’s event chair, said he was heartened by the outpouring of support.
“Every year I am amazed at how many people within our community are willing to give of their time and resources to support our local Manhattan Beach public schools,” Dax said. “That generosity is infectious and causes more and more people to give back each year.”
The silent and live auctions raised a combined $500,000 and featured a wide array of packages, including vacation getaways, sports and entertainment items, beauty and health offerings, jewelry, art, culinary experiences, and one-of-a-kind opportunities. The auction also included over 750 bottles of wine donated by members of the community and wineries from throughout California and beyond. Several of the vintners, chefs, and proprietors joined the auctioneer on stage over the course of the evening, helping to bump some of the packages to record-setting heights.
The majority of funds raised from the Wine Auction support the MBEF Endowment, however each year, the Paddle Raise adds a significant funding element directed to current programming. This year’s effort raised over $300,000 to support expanded funding of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) across all grade levels. As paddles were being raised and guests were donating on their phones, MBEF President Alice Kuo emphasized to the audience that STEAM programs have a tremendous impact on student learning and career readiness in a rapidly changing world,
“By dedicating funding to expand STEM programming to STEAM, we can build our foundational programs with more comprehensive curriculum and enrichment opportunities that support wonder, critique, inquiry, and innovation,”
“Fundraising is all about trying to instill joy in giving back,” said Mahan, “and there is no better example than the Manhattan Wine Auction. We are building community and supporting a noble cause at the same time. I am overwhelmed each year by the excitement the Wine Auction brings – from the volunteers to the restaurants, wineries and other beverage partners, to the donors and the guests who set their alarms on May 1 to buy tickets – these are the people that make the Manhattan Wine Auction the iconic fundraising event that it is.” ER
