From vines on guests’ heads to the wine sourced from other vines, Circle of Hope held its annual Vine2Wine fundraiser on Saturday at Bella Vida.
Guests dressed in togas to fit the Greek theme, while supporting Circle of Hope’s cause: providing “emotional, education and financial assistance along with supportive wellness therapies to the Santa Clarita Valley cancer community,” according to the nonprofit’s mission statement.
Twelve beer and wine vendors set up throughout the courtyard that attendees could taste test, in addition to live music played by Lance Allen prior to the program.
Co-chairs Dawn Abasta and Alexander Hafizi discussed planning the fundraising event, which has been a tradition for over a decade.
“The idea is to invite wineries, and the wineries are here to talk to the people that are here, pour their wine, let them taste their wines, they get food as they walk around, as well,” Hafizi said. “It’s been a few years since we’ve added a silent auction. The whole point is for [guests] to get together and have a good time and meet each other all for Circle of Hope.”
According to Abasta, many of the wineries showed up to support the cause.
“The unique part is that over 10 of the winery owners are pouring their own stuff. A lot of them are local or nearby, like Ventura, High Desert, more regional than local,” Abasta said. “This is a beautiful venue, and it’s allowed us to expand the event.”
Abasta sent the first emails to the wineries in the fall, and has focused on planning Saturday’s event ever since.
“This is a fundraiser for Circle of Hope, so our goal is to raise as much money as we can for a Circle of Hope. So, adding the auction, silent auction, live auction, that helps us with that,” Hafizi said. “It’s been fun seeing everyone come together, and letting them see our vision come to life.”
Abasta is hopeful that the turnout will increase every year in order to support the nonprofit’s cause.
“Circle of Hope is a cancer center that is a resource to anyone going through any type of cancer. As long as you’re living or being cared for here in the Santa Clarita Valley, you can come and enjoy classes and services like art workshops, yoga and a lot of healing therapies,” Abasta said. “We’ve got all kinds of things. We become our outreach center for you so you’re not alone. So you’re not going through your cancer journey alone.”
