The Big Sur Food & Wine Foundation Announces its 2023 grants to Beneficiaries

The Big Sur Food & Wine Festival and The Big Sur Fashion Show, projects of the Big Sur Food & Wine Foundation, are proud to announce that net proceeds of all 2023 events brought $225,000.00 to be distributed to the following beneficiaries:

Big Sur Fiddle Camp – Weston Call Scholarship $8500

Big Sur Fire $52,000

Big Sur Grange $5500

Big Sur Health Center $52,000

Big Sur Historical Society $5000

Big Sur Park School $11,500

Big Sur Softball $3000

Captain Cooper School – Parent’s Club $11,5000

Esselen Tribe of Monterey County – Earmarked for Cultural and Land Maintenance $8500

Keep Big Sur Wild $2500

Mid Coast Fire Brigade $16,000

Pacific Valley School $11,500

StageKids $5000

The Big Share $10,000

The Henry Miller Memorial Library $17,000

Scholarship for Big Sur Youth (the Foundation’s own scholarship program) $1,000

Ventana Wildlife Society $4,500

The Big Sur Food & Wine Foundation, an all-volunteer-run 501(c)3 non-profit charitable trust, focuses its efforts on the children and families of Big Sur by providing grants to non-profits in the areas of Health, Education, Safety, and The Arts. 

“We are proud to continue to be one of the strongest supporters of the Palo Colorado, Big Sur and South Coast communities, while staying sustainable ourselves, even during challenging times. In 2023, we curated numerous events, Two German Winemaker Pop-Up dinners, the Fashion Show,  and Ferrari Event at The Barnyard, says Elsa Rivera, CFO/Events Director. 

Foundation President Aengus Wagner expands “We couldn’t do any of this without our tireless working committee & Board, Elsa Rivera and Matt Peterson (also Board members), Peggy Giles, Jennifer Haydu, Roman Reed, Laurie Smith, Amanda Oliver (also a Board member), Olivia Carnahan, Ola Williamson-Rocha, Ashley Wolff, Alicia Busa, Erin Mason, Mike Trupiano, Kari Berardi, Nicolaus Balla and Frank Pinney (Board members). Every chef, wine and champagne producer, somm, designer, model, sponsor, photographer, volunteer, venue and guest helps make our mission come to fruition”. “A special shout out to our 2023 event captains too, Adam Olthof, Matt Glazer and Alicia Cuadra Cutler.”

Rivera, who also serves as Executive Director for The Big Sur Fashion Show, adds “ Each year we say it was the best one yet and we’ll say it again, the show was truly amazing. Thanks to our 2023 Big Idea Squad Sadie Kvenild, Megan Patterson, Sehra Evans, Christen Jones, Beverly Van Pelt, Brent Sepulvedo, Magnus Toren, Sven van Rooij, and artist Ruby Brown Dudley. “The sold-out show continues to be one of the most loved and anticipated performance art events of the year.” 

A check presentation gathering for all beneficiaries will be scheduled soon. 

For any questions or more information about the Big Sur Food & Wine Festival or The Big Sur Fashion Show, please contact Elsa Rivera at elsa@bigsurfoodandwine.org 831-596-8105 

The Foundation’s giving history can be found here:

Beneficiaries – Our Giving History