Dear NWA Community,
I LOVE YOU--YOU ARE SPECTACULAR!
On October 3rd we had our biggest annual event, Winetopia and it was incredible! The NWA community came out in full support of the work we are doing and we could not be more grateful! We raised $59,000 to support our work in Kenya! It doesn't get much better than this sweet little spot in the Ozarks and I had to just take a moment to go through our beautiful night and thank some of the people and businesses that made it all happen...
It was the first crisp night this fall and the Pratt Place Barn looked gorgeous as always, we are so thankful that we get to use this incredible space! Bartus Taylor from Buzz Events created a absolutely spectacular lounge that made you feel as if you were stepping into another world--candles, couches, trees, gorgeous lighting, and real sheep skin on the couches so our guests would be cozy. We are in awe of him yet again and so thankful for the amazing contribution.
Glazers Distributing outdid themselves again! They provide 9 tables of wine, and one high-end beer table and provide the knowledgable staff to man all of the tables! We would not have this event without them and we are so grateful for the years of support! They are spectacular!
The food was the best of our NWA community! We had our Winetopia regulars (5 years running)-- Bordinos and Cafe Rue Orleans. We also had Arsagas, Mia Tarts, Fayetteville Pastry Shop, Berry Natural, and Old World Imports. It was the best of the best and we are so thankful to each and everyone of them for keeping our tastebuds and our tummies happy! Nature's Water provided us with fruit infused filtered water for the second year in a row!
On the entertainment side of things we have DJ Shortfuze who always provides perfect soundtrack to our evening. Sherry and Ira Schwartzman were kind enough to bring their Making Memories photo booth again this year! It is a wonderful treat for our guests! There nothing like a lot of wine and a photo booth with accessories to make for some epic images. My dad, Joe Fennel, aka "The Carny in the Corner" runs the Wine Toss that is always the biggest hit of the night!
There were so many people and businesses involved in the making and success of this event, I have done my best to name them all below. Before I begin I would like to give a special acknowledgement to our AMAZING Winetopia "Core Crew"! We have incredible volunteers every year and I will list them all below, but our "Core Crew" is a group of some of my favorite people on the planet that have been volunteering with us for years and spend quite a lot of time and energy outside of the event with me planning, giving feedback, adjusting, and figuring out the best ways to run the event. These people are the reason our event gets better every year and I am beyond grateful to them. The Winetopia Core Crew consists of: Our Auction Chair--Chris Beavers, Volunteer Coordinator--Meredith McKee, Boo Buchanan, Lana Lyon, Tanj Donovan, and Ellie Jones. THANK YOU ALL!! A big thank you to all of the official and unofficial volunteers that made it all possible!
I also want to thank Cole and Mary Fennel with Cole Fennel Photography for taking gorgeous photos again this year! Some of them are throughout this post, but you can see the full gallery here: Winetopia 2014 Photos--Cole Fennel Photography
Here is the lists of all of our Sponsors, Silent Auction Donors, Volunteers, and Honorary Hosts! Thank you all for making Winetopia 2014 a success:
Winetopia Sponsors
Glazers Distributors
BKD, CPA's & Advisors
McDonald's
Blakeman's Fine Jewelry
Pratt Place Inn
Buzz Events & Planning
Intents Party Rentals
Making Memories Photobooth
Nature's Water
Citiscapes Magazine
3W Magazine
Restaurant Sponsors
Bordinos
Cafe Rue Orleans
Arsaga's
Berry Natural
Fayetteville Pastry Shop
Mia Tarts
Old World Imports
Our Silent Auction Donors
All Sports Productions
Arkansas State Beauty Supply
Best Sports & Our Hogs
Bordinos
Britney and Brandon Hurlbut
Chamber of Commerce
Chancellor Hotel
Chef Thomas from Tyson
Clubhaus Fitness
Cole Fennel Photography
Coach Chris Bucknam
Coach Mike Anderson
County Line Liquors
Dark Star Visuals
Doe's Eat Place
Dog Party
Dr. Brian Buell
Dr. Jason Landers/PDAO
Dr. Rebecca Lucke
Elevate--CEO Forums
Farmer's Table
Fayetteville Country Club
Glo
Good Things
Grey Dog Vintage Boutique
Gunderpickles
Herman's
Jennifer Lewis
Joe and Jean Ann Fennel
Joyn
Kathy Thompson
Linley Dust
Liz Rusher
Lola Boutique
Lori Vincent
Massage Matters
Matt Miller
Maude
Mertins Eye Clinic
Mia Tarts and More
Mason’s
Nature's Water
Nitron
Onemanband
Pack Rat Outdoor Center
Pesto Café
Powerhouse Seafood
Rhonda Crone & Maliah Pinkleton
Robin Devine
Roger Boskus
Romance Diamonds
Slim Chickens
Southern Trends
Thatch
The Bike Route
The Independent
The Rainbow Lodge
Trailside Yoga
Walker Bros
Walton Arts Center
Watson Custom Made
Westwood Gardens
Yoga Deza
2014 Honorary Hosts
Steve & Brittany Adair
Dr. Scott & Leslie Bailey
Jeremy & Chris Beavers
Ben & Molly Blakeman
Martell Brown
Leigh & Candra Davis
Abdi Dubed
Chris Goddard & Bartus Taylor
Greg & Hannah Lee
Dr. Allyson & William Mertins
Steve & Natalie McBee
Neal & Gina Pendergraft
Jeff & Eileen Schomburger
Tom & Debi Smith
Volunteer Crew
Chris Beavers
Meredith McKee
Boo Buchanan
Lana Lyon
Tanj Donovan
Ellie Jones
Rebecca Black
Brooke McDonald
Warren Fyfe
Alannah Massey
Elizabeth Gibbons
Adrienne Seeger
Kristi Batchelor
Anne Michelle Hopwood
Laura Jones
Garret Gunderson
Alexandra Buell
Charlie Hoeven
Seth McCutcheon
Chase Hayes
Chris Arcana
Curtis Willis
Shelia Cole
Devin Cole
Spencer Sabo
Cameron Baker
Bartus Taylor & The entire Buzz Events Crew
Michael Adkins
Kimberly Clinehens
Kristin Wolfe
Stephen Black
A HUGE THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR GUESTS!
With immense love & gratitude,
Sarah Fennel