News Summary
The annual Keep the Promise Wine Tasting Benefit in Newport Beach raised nearly $410,000 for The Wooden Floor. Attendees enjoyed a selection of wines and exquisite dining. The event showcased the organization’s mission to support youth through dance education and other programs, achieving a 100% higher education enrollment rate for its graduates. This year, the launch of a community engagement initiative was announced to empower more children in North Orange County.
Newport Beach, CA – The annual Keep the Promise Wine Tasting Benefit successfully raised nearly $410,000 for The Wooden Floor during its 2024 event held on September 25 at Big Canyon Country Club. The funds will support the organization’s various programming focuses, which include dance education, academics, college and career readiness, and family services.
This year’s gathering featured an impressive selection of wines, with guests sampling 12 exceptional offerings that carried an average rating of 97 points and above. These wines were sourced from prestigious wine regions such as France, Italy, Germany, South Africa, Australia, California, Washington, and Oregon. In a fun twist, the wines were served blind, and attendees participated in a guessing game for the chance to win prizes for identifying the options correctly.
Signature dining options were provided by Chef Craig Strong, who curated a menu of exquisite small plates including Spring Pea Arancini, Coconut Shrimp, Lamb Meatballs, Vegetable Spring Rolls, Jumbo Lump Crab Cake, Mini Beef Wellington, and Chicken Potstickers. Additionally, guests enjoyed a cheese and charcuterie station, a raw bar, and a carving station featuring Roasted Prime Beef Tenderloin and Local White Bass.
The event also included opportunity drawings and a silent auction, which offered past prizes like a $1,000 gift card to South Coast Plaza and a GRAMMY Museum Musical Exploration experience. Guests paid $400 per ticket, with $250 being tax-deductible. Sponsorships began at $1,500.
Dawn S. Reese, the CEO of The Wooden Floor, expressed appreciation for the overwhelming community support and underscored the organization’s mission to inspire and transform youth through dance and education. The Wooden Floor has achieved a remarkable 100% enrollment rate in higher education for all its graduates since 2005, a statistic that highlights the effectiveness of its programs over the past 21 consecutive graduating classes.
Event attendees listened to inspiring success stories from current and former students, including Denise Loaiza from the Class of 2025, who shared her personal journey with The Wooden Floor. In addition to these narratives, a new community engagement initiative named Dance Uplifts was announced, designed to support and reach more children in North Orange County.
The Wooden Floor, founded in 1983, has grown to become one of the leading creative youth development nonprofit organizations in the United States. Over the last 18 years, the Keep the Promise events have raised over $4.3 million, directly benefiting the youth it serves.
Celebrated for its elegant decor, the event featured designs by The Fashionable Event’s Stephanie Jernigan and beautiful floral arrangements by Meri Wagner Florals, enhancing the sophisticated atmosphere throughout the evening.
The featured wines at the event included notable choices like the 2020 Domaine de Chevalier Rouge, Tenuta Guado al Tasso, Cirq Pinot Noir, Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon, Manincor Lieben Aich Sauvignon Blanc, and Leeuwin Estate Chardonnay, showcasing a diverse palette for attendees to enjoy.
Through its impactful programming and community events, The Wooden Floor continues to empower young individuals while fostering a supportive environment where the arts and education work hand in hand to create futures filled with possibility.
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Additional Resources
- Newport Beach Independent
- Wikipedia: Wine
- Modern Luxury
- Google Search: Wine Tasting Events
- OC Register
- Google Scholar: The Wooden Floor
- Newport Beach Independent: Keep The Promise
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Youth Development
