St. George Wine Club Foundation wraps up 2018 with record donations to local beneficiaries

The St. George Wine Club gathers at Tuacahn Center for the Arts in Ivins, Utah, date not specified | Photo courtesy of the St. George Wine Club, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — The St. George Wine Club Foundation – a nonprofit organization – announced another record-breaking year, as contributions topped $17,000 at the close of the 2018. More than $45,000 has been returned to the local community since the foundation’s inception, with donations made possible through the club’s monthly socials.

Guests at Tuacahn Center for the Arts during check presentation for the “New Works Festival,” which encourages up-and-coming playwrights, Ivins, Utah, date not specified | Photo courtesy of Marianne Hamilton, St. George News

Each month from September through June, the St. George Wine Club gathers at various Washington County venues to socialize and enjoy live entertainment.

At each wine club gathering, members share pot luck appetizers and their favorite vintages, with a requested $10 donation directed toward the event’s performers and the month’s selected organization or charity – primarily local arts and education entities – in denominations ranging from $500 to $1,000.

According to a press release from the foundation, the benefactors of the donations have included the Center for the Arts at Kayenta, Dixie State University’s College of the Arts and the university’s Alumni Center, the New Works Festival at Tuacahn Center for the Arts, the Art Around the Corner Foundation and the DiFiore Center’s “School of Rock” youth music program, as well as a number of other worthy causes.

Additionally, hosts at the various private venues where the socials are held are also welcome to identify a charity to which the monthly donation will be made, and this year the foundation also funded such organizations as Habitat for Humanity, RSQ Animal Rescue, the Dove Center and the Utah Food Bank.

Since the program was launched in 2015, the St. George Wine Club Foundation’s co-administrators, Doug and Marianne Hamilton, have seen continuous growth in the size of the organization and the reach of its giving.

“We’ve been extremely gratified by the generosity of our members, and their willingness to support so many worthwhile groups,” Doug Hamilton said in the press release. “What started six years ago with a few people gathering in each other’s homes to share a glass of wine is now an organization with nearly 1,800 members, and all of them have embraced our model of ‘doing well by having fun.’

Marianne Hamilton added that she was encouraging by the strong connections established with the community.

“We now receive ‘repeat’ invitations to host our events at such venues as DSU and Kayenta,” she said. “We appreciate the fact that these groups understand and appreciate our vision of giving back, and they support our desire to connect responsible people who happen to enjoy adult beverages.”

The St. George Wine Club gathers at Tuacahn Center for the Arts in Ivins, Utah, date not specified | Photo courtesy of the St. George Wine Club, St. George News

Center for the Arts at Kayenta Executive Director Jan Broberg is one such arts administrator who has extended her facility’s hospitality to the St. George Wine Club on multiple occasions.

“We love having the club here,” Broberg said. “Their events are always festive and fun, and their members are strong supporters of the arts, and their contributions are a great benefit in helping us to continue presenting wonderful professional productions and concerts to the community.”

Susan Jarvis, chair of the board of directors of the Art Around the Corner Foundation, expressed gratitude for the St. George Wine Club Foundation’s sponsorship of a pedestal in the current Art Around the Corner outdoor sculpture gallery.

“We’re extremely grateful to the Wine Club Foundation for supporting public art,” Jarvis said, adding that Wine Club members contributed a $1,000 sponsorship “and are acknowledged on the name-plate for the Cheryl Collins sculpture, ‘Emerging,’ which has been on display since April.”

“The Art Around the Corner Foundation looks forward to future collaborations with the St. George Wine Club Foundation,” Jarvis said.

The Hamiltons are currently finalizing plans for the 2019 socials, which will include a performance by the award-winning barbershop quartet “Newfangled Four” at the Center for the Arts, as well as the third-annual “Sears Gala Weekend Social” at DSU’s Sears Gallery and a spring social at the DiFiore Center for Arts and Education.

For more information about the St. George Wine Club and St. George Wine Club Foundation, visit the St. George Wine Club website or Facebook page or email [email protected].

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Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @STGnews

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2018, all rights reserved.

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3 Comments

  • Bowlinggreen123 December 31, 2018 at 6:19 pm

    There are a lot of people there that will be over the .05 alcohol limit next year. Are the police going to be informed of your next fundraiser?

    • Real Life December 31, 2018 at 8:39 pm

      How right you are. This stupid, stupid law is making Utah look like a backwards, hillbilly, church ran state. And mostly because it is.

  • KR567 January 1, 2019 at 6:20 am

    I like the law I’m glad its here ..I dont drink so it doesn’t bother me .. but I’m thrilled its here

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