By Adam Brazeau
CORNWALL, Ontario – The glass was more than half-full with rich flavours, paired with fun and fundraising at the 12th annual Seaway International Wine Festival.
Nearly 500 elegantly dressed guests filled two stylishly decorated ballrooms at Ramada Inn Cornwall on Saturday, Jan. 17.
This year the wine festival benefitted both the United Way of Cornwall/SDG and Cornwall charity Rachel’s Kids.
After a dozen years, the event has collected over $100,000 for local charities and groups.
Scott Lecky, owner/general manager of the hotel and conference centre, said it raises between $12,000 to $15,000 annually.
“Every dollar helps and it all goes to the kids,” said Rachel Navaneelan.
For $100 a ticket, wine lovers and connoisseurs were treated to dozens of varieties of regional and international wines, beers, and spirits, as well as a long list of gourmet food stations.
“It’s amazing the phone calls we get in the fall asking about the festival because people are just so into it,” said Lecky. “We really look forward to putting it on.”
The United Way’s 70th local anniversary campaign of $707,070 has come down to the wire. With a deadline extension already passed, the charitable organization is roughly $70,000 shy of its mark.
“I don’t have a definitive number, but donations are still coming in and that’s encouraging,” said Lori Greer, executive director of the local United Way.
The campaign has surpassed the 90 per cent mark.
“If it takes a little longer to get wherever we end up, it’s okay. We’re extremely pleased with the generosity we’ve received so far,” she said.
