V Foundation Wine Celebration Raises $3.9 Million for Cancer Research at 10th Annual Event

August 4, 2008

Dynamic GMA Host Robin Roberts Headlined Lively Napa Party Resulting in Generous  Support for Late Jim Valvano's Eponymous Foundation for Cancer Research.

As Frankie Vallie & The Four Seasons sang later in the evening, “Oh What Night!,” the  V Foundation Wine Celebration raised a total of $3.9 million for cancer research at the  four-hour gala that included both silent and live auctions as well as a Fund-a-Need effort  dedicated to children's cancer research efforts.   

Roberts, the popular Good Morning America host who has recently shared her own  breast cancer experience with the world during her morning appearances was glowing  as she took the stage, citing her mother as her inspiration to share her own story with  the world by, "Making my mess my message." As a colleague of Jimmy V's at ESPN,  Ms. Roberts shared that it was she who took the stage immediately after Valvano's now  famous speech at the ESPY Awards where he urged viewers to continue to fight to find  a cure. "My proudest moment at ESPN was being there for Jim that night," said Roberts  before encouraging guests to dig deep and raise their paddles to support the research  grants the evening's proceeds help to fund.  

And dig deep they did. The Fund A Need that evening was dedicated to the research  efforts of UCSF pediatric oncologist Kate Matthay who received a $1 million grant for  her studies in neuroblastoma.   

At the end of the night the tally stood at $3.9 million dollars, including two $1 million  gifts: one for an additional grant for research in pediatric cancer, and the second for the  V Foundation Endowment Fund. Roberts was visibly moved by another surprise pledge  of $100,000 made in her name by ESPN. The money will be directly applied to ongoing  breast cancer research at Dana Farber Cancer Institute.   

The evening marked the tenth anniversary for the event, which has been hosted by  Nickel & Nickel winery for the past several years. Michael Chiarello created an elegant  menu featuring local seasonal produce and Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons  entertained the crowd following the live auction, which was masterfully presided over by  noted wine auctioneer David Reynolds.   

Top Lots: 

The top lot (not including the Fund-a-Need) was a partnership between Audi and  Chappellet Vineyards which yielded a grand total of $70,000. Three lots went for  $40,000 a piece and included a Super Bowl package, a combination of wine and Duke  basketball, as well as an ESPY Awards package. Top wine lots included a dinner and  wine service in the home of Bart and Daphne Araujo which went for $27,000 and a 5- magnum vertical from ten Napa Valley producers Jones Family, Spotteswood, Silver  Oak Cellars, Duckhorn, Frank Family, Constant and Vineyard 29 which fetched  $22,000. For a complete listing of lots, please see www.winecelebration.com.

2008 Fund-A-Need 

This year the V Wine Celebration Fund A Need goal was to solicit funds to support a  four-year, $1 million grant at UCSF, led by Dr. Kate Matthay, who will expand on the  great strides made in her 2001 V Foundation grant which focused on neuroblastoma.  The five-year survival rate for neuroblastoma has risen from under 10% in the 1980s, to  40% today in large part to the tireless efforts of Dr. Matthay, her UCSF team and the  collective of 14 participating institutions around the country, who have ministering to the  needs of the smallest warriors, many of whom are now long-term survivors among  patients whose disease was initially unresponsive to standard therapies. 

About the Event:  

The 10th Annual V Foundation Wine Celebration took place August 1 & 2 in the Napa  Valley, raising $3.9 million for critical cancer research. The event, a signature fundraiser  for The V Foundation (www.jimmyv.org), brings sports, high tech and wine industry  notables together for a two-day celebration in the Napa Valley to fund research grants  designated by the V Foundation’s Scientific Advisory Board. The event is the brainchild  of Bay Area venture capitalists Julie and Andrew Constantin and has raised  approximately $30 million since it's inception.  The 11th Annual V Wine Celebration will  be held in the magical Napa Valley, August 7 & 8, 2009.

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For more information regarding event details, including menu and auction lot details,  please contact Tori Wilder at 707.227.8310 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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