May 30, 2007, Santa Rosa, CA – Sonoma County’s largest charity wine event has been renamed Sonoma Paradiso Wine Auction, more effectively celebrating the beauty and bounty of Sonoma County. As the event moves nearer to its commencement, 12 chairing families have been established, including Barbara Banke and Jess Jackson, Peggy Furth, Fred Furth, Eleanor and Francis Ford Coppola, Sandra and Tom Jordan, Sally and Ray Duncan, and Nancy and John Lasseter.

The event will be held on Saturday, October 6, 2007 at the Francis Ford Coppola Presents Rosso & Bianco Winery, located in Alexander Valley. Auction day begins with registration and lot preview, accompanied by premium wines from Sonoma County. A three-course lunch will precede the lifestyle auction that features luxury automobiles and aircraft, travel, jewelry and collectible wines from around the world.

For the younger members of the Sonoma County community, the Santa Rosa Symphony will again perform free concerts for children on July 26 at 10:00am and 11:00am, with narration by Marcy Smothers and a special appearance by the Pickle Family Circus of San Francisco.

“Continuing with our past efforts, we have again created strategic alliances with the New York Times, Santa Rosa Press Democrat and the Robb Report,” said co-founder Barbara Banke.

Together with a group of financial sponsors and a dedicated team of volunteers, the original Imagine Auction in 2004 made Sonoma County history, topping $1 million in proceeds. Having distributed more than $4.5 million in only three years, the event is one of the top three wine auctions in the nation and has gained recognition for providing necessary funds for its local and regional beneficiaries.

Doug Caldwell from Boys and Girls Club of Windsor, one of the beneficiaries, states:
“This has just been an amazing event from the very first year and it has gotten bigger and better—I understand that there are two concerts this year allowing 3,000 kids to participate. Imagine, now Sonoma Paradiso, has helped construct our gymnasium. We need just under $200,000 to get it open and operating and a total of $1,000,000 to complete it. Hundreds more children will benefit from this new venue for recreation, sports and fitness activities. We’re proud to be a beneficiary of Sonoma Paradiso.”

As was the case with Imagine, Sonoma Paradiso will continue to distribute 100% of the proceeds raised to the beneficiaries, thanks to the generous support of sponsors. Although key Sonoma County vintners are participating in the event through donation, sponsorship and volunteer work, the Sonoma County Vintners Association, previously announced as a sponsor, will not be participating due to a lack of internal infrastructure.

Banke noted, “We are well underway with the planning and organization of this event. We have been actively pursuing strategic collaborations with vintners, businesses and charity auctions whom we support and who support the Sonoma Paradiso event. We expect the event to exceed all previous expectations and will continue, as in the past, to provide much needed funds for the charitable organizations in Sonoma County.”

For more information about Sonoma Paradiso, please contact Auction Director Kelley Perez at 707.522.6444 or email info@sonomaparadiso.com.

For more information about the free children’s concert, please contact Pamela Harrington at 707-657-4882 or email pharrington@chalkhill.com.

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