May 8, 2018

First Press Fine Wine and Dinner Auction

Friends of Public Radio Arizona hosted its premier black-tie affair April 7 at the Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia. The First Press Wine Dinner and Auction began with tastings from more than 25 wineries as guests arrived while the Sweetwater Trio provided chamber music.

Guests enjoyed a five-course wine-paired dinner followed with each table enjoying wines from a particular winery. Valley auctioneer Bobby D and his team from Call to Auction led bidding, assisted by KJZZ on-air host Heather van Blokland, NPR Morning Edition newscaster Korva Coleman and Dr. Jim Paluzzi, vice president of the Rio Salado College public service division. B-Platinum provided after-dinner dance music. New to the event this year was the opportunity to purchase a Golden Ticket, enabling one bidder to win seven days in Cortona, Italy.

Money raised at the event supports public radio classical music station K-BACH and KJZZ’s teen media center SPOT 127. A highlight of the evening was paddle-bidding during which $30,000 was raised to purchase a SPOT 127 van for student trips that supplement their learning.

PHOTOS COURTESY FRIENDS OF PUBLIC RADIO ARIZONA