Guests wined and dined at 16th Annual Wine Dinner & Auction

THE WOODLANDS, Texas – Guests experienced a one-of-a-kind event dining on the Main Stage at The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in support of the arts at The Pavilion Partners 16th Annual Wine Dinner & Auction April 6. Partners, the official volunteer organization of The Center for the Performing Arts at The Woodlands, home of The Pavilion, raised approximately $130,000 at the event. Funds raised from the live auction, bid board, named scholarships and drawing, which totaled approximately $95,000, benefit The Pavilion Partners Fine Arts Scholarship Program. The remaining net proceeds generated from ticket sales and the silent auction, approximately $35,000, benefit The Pavilion’s educational outreach programs. Since its inception, Partners has awarded $805,000 in scholarships to students studying the arts.

“I am always surprised at how generous our community is. We truly appreciate the support from our sponsors as well as the volunteers and guests. This event could not happen without each one of them,” said Candi Glenn, co-chairwoman of the Wine Dinner & Auction. “We had more than 240 guests attend which set a record for the event. All the guests had a wonderful time dining on The Pavilion’s stage, which is such a unique opportunity.”

Guests enjoyed a wine and hors d’oeuvres reception with wines from Benziger Family Winery and were treated to the sounds of Maydwell Musical Group during the social hour of the event. Marie Daniels, a scholarship recipient in 2009, performed during the dinner. Following the social hour was a seated dinner by Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar.

The live and bid board auctions featured fabulous trips to Italian and Napa, custom-made jewelry, sports packages, premium wine baskets, fur coats, theater and concert tickets and much more. Also auctioned off were seven $1,500 Fine Arts Scholarships. Those donors received a pair of pearl earrings donated by Robichau’s Jewelry. Another opportunity to support the Fine Arts Scholarships was to purchase a collectible wine glass charm for $50.

This year’s event honors Shelli Moran. Moran spent 13 years with Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar with 10 of those years in The Woodlands. For the past four years she has been responsible for the underwriting of the dinner by Fleming’s for the event. Moran was awarded The Woodlands Community Hero in 2010, nominated for The Woodlands Chamber of Commerce’s Citizen of the Year Award, a 2013 Hometown Hero and a five-time Partner of the Year with Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse. She and her fiancé Justin Styles decided to go into business for themselves and recently purchased Woodlands Wine Company, rebranding it to cellar twenty four.

Underwriters of the event include Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, Candi & Gerald Glenn, Dianne & George Lindahl III, Joy Boreman, Lorri & Brian Petrauskas, Sylvia Caracio, Theresa & Dr. Lamar Roemer, Arlene & Sol Sachs, Cindy Notarainni, JoAnne & Randy Lowry, Judy & Dickie Jones, Chris Long, Cathy & Robert Grossman, Crescent Moon Wine Bar and Robichau Jewelry.

For more information about The Pavilion Partners 16th Annual Wine Dinner & Auction, or the Partners organization, please contact Leslie Williams.