Donations have been given to the Redwood Credit Union North Bay Fire Relief Fund, the Sonoma County Grape Growers Foundation’s Wildfire Housing Support Fund, the Sonoma County Community Foundation Resilience Fund and other relief funds
SANTA ROSA, Calif. (February 1, 2018) – The team at Benovia Winery, a small production, family-owned winery in the heart of the Russian River Valley, is pleased to announce that almost $400,000 has been donated to Sonoma County fire relief funds and would like to thank donors for their amazing support and concern. Benovia Winery is owned by husband-and-wife co-founders Mary Dewane and Joe Anderson and winemaker Mike Sullivan.
Pictured left to right: Matt Martin, VP Community & Government Relations; Meg Cadiz, AVP Community Programs; Mike Sullivan, Winemaker & Co-Owner, Benovia Winery; and Gonzalo Romo, Community Liaison. Meg is accepting a donation from Benovia for the Redwood Credit Union North Bay Fire Relief Fund.
When the devastating fires broke out in October, friends of Benovia in Sonoma County and across the country pitched in immediately to offer financial assistance. Benovia pledged $100,000 in matching funds to be shared by the Redwood Credit Union North Bay Fire Relief Fund, the Sonoma County Grape Growers Foundation’s Wildfire Housing Support Fund, and the Sonoma County Community Foundation Resilience Fund. In response to Benovia’s pledge, donations large and small totaling $199,000 poured in from friends of the winery all across the country, so Benovia’s $100,000 matching donation was quickly realized. Additionally, Benovia waived tasting room fees from October 24 – December 31 and donated $15,000 to the same group of funds. Donations included:
- $110,000 from the trustees of the Southwest Florida Children’s Charities, Inc. who organize the Southwest Florida Wine and Food Fest annually
- $50,000 from the Green Foundation
- $5,000 from Moss Adams in Santa Rosa
- $75,000 from Benovia co-founders Mary Dewane and Joe Anderson
“Along with our winemaker and co-owner Mike Sullivan, my wife Mary and I would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed to fire relief funds,” said Benovia co-founder Joe Anderson. “We received meaningful contributions large and small from friends across the country. In the midst of such profound loss, our spirits were lifted by the generosity of the ‘Benovians’ – our loyal customers, friends and family.”
Karissa Kruse, President of the Sonoma County Winegrowers and Mike Sullivan, Winemaker and Co-Owner of Benovia Winery. Karissa is accepting a donation from Benovia for the Sonoma County Grape Growers Foundation’s Wildfire Housing Support Fund.
About Benovia Winery
Benovia Winery is a special, small production, family-owned winery in the heart of the Russian River Valley that specializes in sustainably farmed, single-vineyard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Founded by husband and wife team Mary Dewane and Joe Anderson, Benovia was named after Mary and Joe’s fathers, Ben Dewane and Novian Anderson. Benovia owns and farms three distinctly different vineyards so as to present several nuanced wines in its portfolio. The wines are allocated directly to customers and distributed to select restaurants across the country.
