Nashville Wine Auction’s mission is to unite the wine community to fund the fight against cancer. The nonprofit hosts three main large-scale fundraising events annually, with smaller supporting events throughout the year. The 43rd Annual l’Eté du Vin will be held July 21st-23rd. The new Music City Harvest Party will be held on October 14th, an inaugural outdoor event featuring some amazing wines from South America. Pairings: Nashville’s Ultimate Wine and Food Weekend will be February 23rd-25th. Established in 1980, the Nashville Wine Auction has raised more than thirty million for organizations whose purpose is directly related to cutting-edge research, innovative treatment as well as family and caregiver support. 

 

Brian Junghans, Board Chairman of the Nashville Wine Auction and Williamson County resident, has been involved with the organization for several years. “In early 2014, my wife, Kristen, and I built a wine cellar. Kristen was hosting a group of friends for a birthday party, and one of the guests noticed the cellar and invited her to a Nashville Wine Auction event,” Brian explains. “We were quickly hooked by the events’ quality, the group’s friendliness and how much fun we had. In addition to attending parties, we started volunteering at events and hosting dinners at our home. We got to know the organization more deeply, and the cause behind the fun became a focal point for our involvement. Both of us have lost grandparents to cancer, so anything we can do to help patients and families in need directly, groups that support patients and families going through a cancer journey and research organizations working to find a cure - we are in!”   

 

The Nashville Wine Auction supports nine organizations directly related to cancer research, innovative patient treatment and caregiver and patient support. “Each year, organizations that meet those parameters submit grant applications by December 31st. Those applications are reviewed by the Nashville Wine Auction Grant Committee, who evaluates the applications based on the specific projects sought to be funded, the amounts requested and the measure of impact,” says Brian. “The Grant Committee provides a proposed list of beneficiaries to be approved by the Nashville Wine Auction Board of Directors for the following year, and then funds to support those beneficiaries are awarded at the end of each year after our fundraising events have taken place.”

 

“One success story that shows our impact involves our beneficiary Ascension Saint Thomas who runs the Our Mission in Motion (OMIM). OMIM is a mobile unit that provides 3D Tomography in Middle Tennessee. OMIM offers screening mammograms and breast health education programs to more than 3,000 disadvantaged, under-served and uninsured women annually. With the help of a grant from Nashville Wine Auction, OMIM was able to launch a second mobile unit to double their outreach to increase early detection, prevention and ultimately save lives,” he says.

 

Brian says that one common phrase they hear among their donors and patrons is, “We came for the wine, but we stayed for the cause.” He also says that Nashville Wine Auction curates amazing events and experiences. They also foster relationships within the hospitality, wine making and food-loving community –there is something for everyone at their events. “Whether you are just learning about wine or you are a seasoned collector, there is a way for you to become involved. Our beneficiaries tell us the positive impact our donations have made on their organizations for over forty years. And our donations would not be possible without the incredible support of our wine-loving community.”

 

The Nashville Wine Auction continues to break its own fundraising goals and records, demonstrating that Nashville’s wine community loves wine and hates cancer! Millions of dollars have been raised for local nonprofit cancer-related organizations. This year’s beneficiaries are American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge, Ascension Saint Thomas Foundation, Gilda’s Club Middle Tennessee, HopeKids, Inc., Leukemia Lymphoma Society, Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Middle Tennessee, PearlPoint Nutrition Services, Survivor Fitness Foundation, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. To learn more and to make plans to attend go to: nashvillewineauction.com.