WSRE Press Room
WSRE's Wine & Food Classic Raises a Glass and Important Funds for PBS Station
WSRE, PBS for the Gulf Coast, held the “Recipe for Success” 23rd Annual WSRE Wine & Food Classic on Friday and Sunday, October 21 and 23 at Pensacola Beach raising more than $100,000 for the acclaimed programming and educational outreach services of the local public television station.
PBS celebrity chef John Besh was part of the draw for Friday evening’s Grand Tasting at the Holiday Inn Resort. Besh presented a cooking demonstration and signed copies of his cookbook based on his PBS television show, John Besh’s New Orleans. An estimated 300 guests also enjoyed fine wines from Republic National Distributing and culinary samplings from local top chefs, along with the opportunity to bid on silent auction items.
Opening Sunday’s Signature Dinner at the Hilton Pensacola Beach Gulf Front, Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward welcomed the PBS fans in attendance to “the neighborhood” wearing a cardigan sweater in true Mister Rogers’ fashion. Other local personalities participated in PBS-themed skits throughout the evening. The Signature Dinner seated 250 guests as each course of their gourmet meal was prepared by a local top chef and paired with an award-winning wine. A live auction, led by auctioneers Cate and Collier Merrill, added to the fun and fundraising.
“Wine & Food is our largest fundraiser of the year, and its success has never been more important. The funds raised are needed for WSRE to continue our quality programming and community outreach. We cannot thank enough those who have participated and contributed their time and gifts to this year’s event. They make it possible for WSRE to make a difference, which we do in so many ways,” said Sandy Cesaretti Ray, WSRE general manager.
At the Signature Dinner, Cesaretti Ray highlighted some of the successful programs funded by the event in recent years. Nearly 100,000 school children have been motivated to read by a partnership with the former Pensacola Pelicans baseball team through Scoop’s Reading Challenge, and more than 1,500 school teachers have benefited from WSRE’s Teacher Training Institute, designed to enhance the use of technology in local K-12 classrooms.
“Thousands of teachers, parents and children have utilized the resources and materials that PBS provides for student enrichment through WSRE. Our educational programs have resulted in strengthening literacy in the communities we serve and raising awareness about the importance of early childhood education.”
This year’s honorary Wine & Food Classic co-chairs were Teri Levin and Julian MacQueen with event co-chairs Michael Johnson and Bill Campion. Committee members included Jacquie and Carl Gray, Ashley and Max Gray, Ed and Trisha Morrison, Candy Carlisle, Bill Bush, JoAnn VanFleteren, Michele Gomez, Curtis Flower, Debbie Sapp, James Stegall, Sammie and Newman Rodgers, Bryan Earnhart, Chuck McCants, Rock and Sue Penfold, Hubie and Pat Williford. Major sponsors were AT&T, Cox Communications, Gulf Power Company, Hilton Pensacola Beach Gulf Front, Holiday Inn Resort Pensacola Beach, Levin Rinke Resort Realty, Pensacola News Journal, Polonza Bistro, Renfroe Spinal Center, Republic National Distributing Co., State Farm Insurance: Michael Johnson, Stephen T. Holman P.A. Attorney at Law, Thompson-Walden Insurance and WEAR TV3/WFGX.