The 5th Annual Wine and Equine Festival, an event benefiting Castro Valley-based SonRise Equestrian Foundation, returns to Wente Vineyards on Friday, September 16, 2011.
This year's theme is "A Magical Evening in the Vineyard" and is being touted as the non-profit's most ambitious fundraiser to date, with the organization aiming to generate half of its operating budget for the entire year.
“This will be a special evening to look back to hundreds of magical moments in which horses have forever changed the lives of children and adults in our community and to look forward to the changes to come," SonRise founder Melanie Buerke said in a news release.
The event will feature wines, appetizers, gourmet dinner, dancing with music by Jack Pollard, live and silent auction, wine cellar raffle and a jewelry raffle. Tickets to attend the Wente-sponsored festival are $150 and can be purchased at SonriseEquestrianFoundation.org or by calling (925) 838-RIDE.
SonRise Equestrian Foundation is a volunteer-run effort pairing horses both regular-sized and miniature with children who have social, emotional or physical challenges, including life-limiting illnesses. The organization says it's riding lessons, mini-horse hospice visits, and working ranch programs develop confidence, integrity and responsibility in the participating children.