Benefiting the First Responders that Keep Napa Safe
NAPA, CALIFORNIA – August 22, 2024 – Napa City Councilmember Liz Alessio’s 4th Annual Harvest Hoedown raised over $150,000 to benefit the First Responder Support Network (FRSN) on Saturday, August 17 at D’Ambrosio Vineyards.
The annual Hoedown once again brought in a huge segment of Napa’s philanthropic community as well as local and state elected officials, first responders and their significant others who have benefited from FRSN, and dozens of volunteers who came to show their gratitude and support for law enforcement, fire fighters, and EMT/paramedics.
As the sun came down over the Oak Knoll vineyard, the stage was set for an epic evening of country-style fun and fundraising amongst some of Napa’s most notable names. Mr. Robin Baggett and Executive Chef Jesse Mc Query of Alpha Omega was busy cooking his famous barbecue ribs, chickens, and beans, and Chef Kristine Schug of Schug Winery welcomed guests with a hearty grazing station that included meats, cheeses, gourmet accoutrements, and desserts for later in the evening. Nashville Recording artist SJ McDonald helped paint the scene with her country originals which several she performed as a contestant on American Idol.
Guests enjoyed craft cocktails and glasses of Napa’s best wine while outbidding their friends and neighbors at the silent auction before heading outside for a Napa style barbecue feast. Before the meal, everyone saluted the giant American flag hanging from the red, white, and blue ladder of a Napa County Fire engine as SJ McDonald sang the National Anthem. The program was filled with inspiration and testimony from prominent first responders or spouses of first responders including Napa County Sheriff Oscar Ortiz, Ret. Napa Fire Chief Tim Borman, Emcee Taylor Bartolucci, FRSN President Nathan Schlitz, and California State Treasurer Fiona Ma and her husband Jason Hodge.
After the testimony, Auctioneer Johnnie White stepped up to the plate as paddles went up to raise money for post-traumatic retreats for first responders. When the dust settled, the Hoedown raised an astounding $150,000 breaking its goal of $100,000.
“I’m very grateful for everyone’s support and generosity. This means the world to me that we were able to shine the light on the importance of first responders’ mental health, while also raising enough funds to scholarship 30 first responders or their significant other to FRSN West Coast Post-Trauma Retreat located in Napa County. This is about being there for those who are courageously there for us each day.” said Liz Alessio.
For more than 20 years, FRSN has been a lead provider of support in helping first responders and their significant others cope with the debilitating effects of critical incident stress. They have helped more than 2,000 first responders and their significant others who have attended their trauma retreats in California, Washington, Oregon, Indiana, Arizona, and Kansas. “Many first responders see more trauma in one day than most people see in their entire lives; our retreats seek to get them back to life after those experiences,” says Molly Willenbring, FRSN Executive Director.
