For Immediate Release                                                            Contact:  Max Duley

707-963-0611                                                                                                  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

The 13th Annual V Foundation Wine Celebration took place August 5 & 6, 2011, in the Napa Valley, and raised more than $4 million for critical cancer research. The event is a signature fundraiser for The V Foundation, started by legendary sportscaster and coach Jim Valvano.

The 2011 V Wine Celebration weekend began with the Friday Night, “Let’s Get it Started” Party at The Pavilion at The Vintage Estates. Guests gathered to enjoy an evening of delicious food offered by renowned restaurateurs and chefs, accompanied by a broad selection of wines from legendary wineries. The inaugural BBQ Vintner Cook Off took place with vintners Cyril Chappellet, Robin Baggett, Jeff Gargiulo and Dave Miner preparing an assortment of grilled delights. Guests sang and danced along to a high-energy performance by band and concert act David Martin’s House Party.

Saturday morning began with the Research Symposium, where the latest breakthroughs in cancer research were presented. Attendees were able to ask questions of The V Foundation Scientific Advisory Board, which is composed of leading cancer physicians from across the country.

Guests soaked up the sunshine and relaxed Saturday afternoon at The Villagio Inn & Spa where they savored boutique and legendary wines and sampled food at the Innovators & Icons Marketplace.

Saturday’s activities culminated with the Gala Dinner and Live Auction at Nickel & Nickel Winery. As guests sipped glasses of single vineyard Nickel & Nickel Cabernet and dined on an elaborate dinner created by McCall’s Catering, Chairman Bob Lloyd and Duke Coaching Legend Mike “Coach K” Krzyzewski livened up the crowd and implored the guests to give generously. Dr. Neil Aldoroty, Napa icon and four-time non-Hodgkins Lymphoma survivor, spoke of the severe need for money for cancer research and the extraordinary support from his wife Karen. A Vintner Grant to benefit stomach cancer was named in honor of Robin Baggett and Michelle Fields of Alpha Omega Winery. This year’s Fund A Need benefited brain cancer research and a special, touching speech, via video, was given by Olympic Gold Medalist and US and World Champion Figure Skater Scott Hamilton. Over $1 million was raised specifically for brain cancer research with the help of a $500,000 matching pledge from Accelerated Brain Cancer Cure. During the live auction, guests bid on popular lots like a trip via private jet from Napa to New York City to attend private fashion week events with legendary female vintners Beth Nickel and Teri Kuhn, a luxury vacation to Tuscany including a winemaking session with super-Tuscan vintner Alessandro Landini, a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the London Olympics with VIP access, and an adorable Australian Labradoodle puppy named Vern. The Bentley Raffle earned $325,000 and one of our strongest  “V” supporters, Nancy Probst, was the lucky winner of a gorgeous new 2012 Bentley Continental GT Coupe. The evening finished with a private performance by the rock band legacy, The Doobie Brothers.

The 14^th V Foundation Wine Celebration will be held again August 3 & 4, 2012, with 100% of all net proceeds and new cash donations from events applied directly to innovative cancer research grants and opportunities. For more information, or photos of the event, please contact Max Duley at 707-963-0611 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . For more information or tickets to the 2012 event visit www.winecelebration.org

About The V Foundation for Cancer Research

The V Foundation for Cancer Research was founded in 1993 by ESPN and the late Jim Valvano, legendary North Carolina State basketball coach and ESPN commentator. Since 1993, The Foundation has raised more than $100 million to fund cancer research grants nationwide. It awards 100 percent of all direct cash donations and net proceeds of events directly to cancer research and related programs. The Foundation, which has received seven consecutive top 4-star ratings from Charity Navigator, awards grants through a competitive awards process strictly supervised by a Scientific Advisory Board. For more information on The V Foundation or to make a donation, please visit www.jimmyv.org.  www.winecelebration.org

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OFFICIAL RULES

THE V FOUNDATION WINE CELEBRATION BENTLEY DRAWING

• OFFICIAL RULES:  The Official Rules of The V Foundation Wine Celebration Bentley Drawing (“raffle”) are set forth below.  By entering the raffle, entrant agrees to be bound by the terms of these Official Rules and by the decisions and interpretation of the Sponsor.

• SPONSOR:  The Sponsor of this raffle is The Crush Foundation d/b/a The V Foundation Wine Celebration (“Sponsor”), a supporting organization of The V Foundation for Cancer Research, and is a tax-exempt, non-profit organization located at 176 Main St., Suite D, St. Helena, CA 94574.

• ELIGIBILITY:  The raffle is open to qualifying persons 18 years of age or older who complete an entry in accordance with these Rules (“Entrants”). Officers or employees of Sponsor, or members of their immediate families, are not eligible.

• HOW TO ENTER:  All entries with payment must be received by The V Foundation Wine Celebration (Sponsor) no later than 8 p.m. PST on August 6, 2011. Entrant may purchase raffle tickets for $1000 (participants may purchase multiple tickets) from an authorized representative of Sponsor. Only Sponsor’s officially authorized and numbered raffle tickets may be used to enter. Altered, mutilated or illegible entries will be disqualified at the sole discretion of Sponsor. Sponsor is not responsible for lost, late, delayed, mutilated, illegible, or misdirected entries.

• GRAND PRIZE:  The winner will receive a 2012 Bentley Continental GT Coupe or comparable Bentley convertible model valued at more than $190,000.

• WINNER SELECTION AND ANNOUNCEMENT:  The winner will be selected by a random drawing on August 6, 2011 at The V Foundation Wine Celebration in Napa Valley, CA. One Grand Prize winner will be selected. The Sponsor will also draw a first alternate and a second alternate winner on the date of the drawing. The drawing will be conducted by Sponsor, whose decision is final on all matters relating to this raffle. Winners need not be present to win. Attempts will be made to notify the winners immediately after the event by the usual methods of business communications, including telephone, email, and/or U.S. Mail. Raffle entrants will provide whatever information is necessary to affect such notice at time of purchase of a ticket. Winner information will also be posted on The V Foundation Wine Celebration web site beginning within 3 days after the drawing. The V Foundation Wine Celebration will only be required to attempt to contact winners by the means of contact described herein via the information provided by the raffle entrant at the time of ticket purchase. Should a raffle entrant’s contact information change after his/her purchase of a raffle ticket, it shall be the responsibility of the raffle entrant to notify The V Foundation Wine Celebration in writing.

Winner must agree to accept prize by August 20, 2011. If prize remains unclaimed as of August 20, 2011, the Sponsor will award the Grand Prize to the first alternate winner. The requirements for the winner will be the same as described herein along with the methods of notification. Winner will have 14 days to agree to accept their prize, after which the prize will be awarded to the second alternate. If necessary, the Sponsor will hold additional drawings to select additional alternates. This process will be repeated every 14 days until the winner has agreed to accept their prize. No cash or other substitutions will be made for prizes. Odds of winning are dependent upon the total number of entries received. The drawing will be limited to three hundred twenty-five (325) entries.

• ENTRANT RESPONSIBILITY:  All expenses and taxes of any kind are the sole responsibility of the winner.  Winner to provide W-9 to The Wine Celebration as part of agreement to accept prize.  The Internal Revenue Service does not generally consider amounts paid for chances in raffles or similar drawings for prizes as tax-deductible donations. Consult your own personal tax advisor. Entries are void where prohibited.

• GOVERNING LAW:  Any dispute arising in connection with this drawing shall be governed by California law. Should any portion of these rules be deemed invalid, the remaining provisions shall still have full force and effect. The Rules listed herein may only be modified in writing with notice to all entrants. Notice will be considered having been given with publication of any modifications to the "Rules" on The V Foundation Wine Celebration web site. In the event of a modification to the published "Rules", entrants may obtain a refund of the entry payment upon written notice to The V Foundation Wine Celebration and surrender of their portion of the raffle ticket. Written notice of an entrant's refund request and the raffle ticket must be received prior to the date of the drawing.

• TERMS AND CONDITIONS:  By participating, Entrant agrees to abide by these Official Rules and by the decisions and interpretation of the Sponsor. Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify from the raffle, and to prosecute to the fullest extent permitted by law, any Entrant or prize winner who, in Sponsor’s sole but reasonable suspicion, tampers with the raffle, the entry process, intentionally submits more than the paid number of entries, violates these Official Rules, or acts ion an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner. This raffle is being conducted in accordance with the Rules for tax-exempt, nonprofit organizations to conduct fundraising raffles by the Attorney General of the State of California under Penal Code section 320.5 and Title 9, section 410 et seq. of California Code of Regulations. The V Foundation Wine Celebration is a 501(c)(3) Tax Exempt organization and registered with the State of California Secretary of State and Attorney General Offices. Registration does not constitute endorsement by those agencies.

• RELEASE:  By entering, Entrant consents to the use of the winner’s name and likeness and any statements, quotes or testimonials provided by the winner for advertising and publicity purposes without further compensation, except where prohibited by law.  Entrant releases Sponsor, its affiliates, their officers, directors, employees and agents from any and all liability for any injuries, losses or damages of any kind resulting from participation in this raffle or by acceptance, possession or use of any prize.

For a list of winners, please write to:

The V Foundation Wine Celebration
176 Main St.
Suite D
St. Helena, CA 94574.

Dr. Neil Aldoroty: Four-time Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma Survivor

In October of 1993, Neil Aldoroty, MD, an accomplished, healthy, 47 year old doctor was stunned with the news he had Stage IV Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. For 20 years while he was practicing  he had annual medical check ups with lab work, chest X-rays, EKG's , etc that always came back normal.  He and his wife Karen took pride in their health.  They watched what they ate, exercised by swimming and running every week, and had a wonderful mental and spiritual outlook on life. Immediately after Neil received this news he urgently reached out to Mike Montgomery, a childhood friend, who was the Men's basketball coach in Stanford. At Stanford his entire medical history/chart was reviewed which collaborated his diagnosis of Stage IV Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. Neil and Karen, numb from shock, were unwilling to accept his fate.

A V Foundation SPORE Clinical Trial Supplement Grant Awarded To The University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute

(Cary, N.C.)--- The V Foundation for Cancer Research, one of the nation’s leading cancer research fundraising organizations, announced that a Supplement to the Lung Cancer Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE) grant to support innovative clinical trials was recently awarded to Dr. Jill M. Siegfried at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute. The $1 million grant was given in honor of Emily Miner, a 39 year old mother of two who was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer.  Miner received the grant in her honor at the 2009 V Foundation Wine Celebration.

Unique Drug Combinations Improve Triple Negative Breast Cancer Treatment

This New Approach to Therapeutic Discovery, led by Dr. Thomas F. Westbrook, was supported in 2009 with a V Foundation V Scholars Grant
Researchers led by Baylor College of Medicine have found a new way to tackle a difficult-to-treat form of breast cancer – a discovery that is being translated into human studies with currently approved FDA drugs.