Fundraiser Raises $1.3 Million for Local Schools
Manhattan Beach Wine Auction Fundraiser
Manhattan Beach Education Foundation (MBEF) raised $1.3 million during the annual Manhattan Wine Auction at Manhattan Country Club. Proceeds will help fund MBEF’s grants to local schools in the 2023-24 school year.
The silent and live auctions featured vacation getaways, sports items, beauty and health offerings, jewelry, art, and culinary experiences. Over 750 bottles of wine were donated to the event by community members and wineries.
1. Hometown Fair
During the Hometown Fair, visitors will be able to enjoy a variety of beach sports and experience Manhattan Beach’s lively culture. The event will feature surfing, paddle boarding, lifeguard competitions and more, making it the perfect place to see top-tier athletes in action. In addition to the sports events, the festival will also include food and wine tastings and live entertainment. KC Campbell of Vox DJs will serve as the event’s emcee, while Better Daze will perform on the main stage.
The 22nd annual Manhattan Beach Wine Auction, the South Bay’s largest “party with a purpose,” drew more than 2,000 attendees and netted $1.3 million for the Manhattan Beach Unified School District (MBUSD) on Saturday night. The sold-out event at the Manhattan Country Club was completely transformed with 50 local restaurants and 80 wineries, breweries and distilleries serving guests in the Reserve Room and Vineyard Courts.
The evening included a silent and live auction with items including exotic trips, one-of-a-kind culinary experiences and rare wines.
2. Wine & Food Festival
Guests will enjoy small bites from 50 South Bay restaurants and wine from more than 80 producers in the Reserve Room and Vineyard Courts. The event is a fundraiser for the Manhattan Beach Education Foundation (MBEF), which has donated over $100 million to the city’s public schools since its founding.
The sold-out fundraiser typically raises seven figures and brings together an affluent group from the Palos Verdes Peninsula, Torrance, and other parts of the South Bay. The event’s committee works year-round to secure the commitment of restaurants and wineries, curate auction lots and bring it all together on the day of the auction.
MBEF’s silent and live auctions combined to raise $500,000 plus, with packages including getaways, sports items, beauty and health offerings, jewelry and art. The event also raises funds for the MBEF Endowment Fund, which provides a steady source of funding to help maintain rigorous academics and special programs that other funding sources cannot support.
3. Open Volleyball Tournament
The Manhattan Beach Open Volleyball Tournament is a unique event that showcases the city’s vibrant beach culture. The four-day tournament features some of the best men’s and women’s beach volleyball teams in the world, and is a great way to experience Manhattan Beach.
The event is hosted by the Manhattan Beach Education Foundation, and raises funds for the city’s public schools. The event includes a silent and live auction, with incredible items up for bid including luxury vacations, one-of-a-kind dining experiences, and rare bottles of wine.
Each year, thousands of people attend the event to sample wines and bites from local restaurants, bid on auction items, and raise their paddles for education. Tickets to the event are available for purchase on a per-person basis, or through Center Court table sponsorships. The proceeds from the auction are used to fund the Manhattan Beach Education Foundation Endowment. The foundation has donated over $100 million to the city’s public schools since its inception.
4. Art Walk
The Art Walk is an annual event held at Manhattan Beach to showcase the city’s local culture. The event features food, music, arts and crafts, and vendors who sell their products. It is a fun, family-friendly event that draws visitors from all over the city.
Last year’s Manhattan Wine Auction raised more than $1.3 million to benefit MBUSD schools. Guests at the event enjoyed dishes from 50 local restaurants, with over 80 wineries, breweries and distilleries pouring rare and specialty wines in the Reserve Room and Vineyard Courts. Guests also had the opportunity to bid on one-of-a-kind wine and travel experiences in the live auction.
Guests can purchase tickets for the Manhattan Wine Auction individually or buy tables in Center Court to sit during the stage program and raise their paddles during the live auction. Ticket and table purchases will be charged to the credit card on file at the close of the Auction Check-Out on June 10th, 2023.