30th Annual Classic Wines Auction Raises Record $3.4 million

Portland, March 1st, 2014. More than 950 attended the 30th Annual Classic Wines Auction and that was a new record. At the event, Greg Goodwin, CEO of Kuni Automotive, handed the keys to the BMW i8 to winner Linda Dahl as guests help celebrate the bidding action. The gala at the Oregon Convention Center raised a record $3.4 million to support youth and families in five different charities in Portland and Southwest Washington.

Honorary Chair John von Schlegell joins Honorary Washington Wine Ambassadors Darcy Fugman-Small and Rick Small of Woodward Canyon.

Honorary Wine Ambassador Veronique Drouhin-Boss, representing both Maison Joseph Drouhin (France) and Domaine Drouhin Oregon joins California Honorary Wine Ambassador, Barbara Banke, of Jackson Family Wines.

CWA Board member Chris Hermann actively participates in the BMW i8 bidding and purchases the second one (a surprise offer from Kuni Automotive).

Linda Rae Hickey, CWA Raise your Paddle Chair and Emeritus Board Member, encourages the audience to help reach a record-breaking goal of $1 million in Raise your Paddle donations. For the 1st time in CWA history, that goal was achieved!

Guests admired the BMW i8 plug-in hybrid sports car donated by Kuni Automotive and Kuni BMW.

Brian Wineke, Managing Director of U.S. Trust, and Roger Hinshaw, Bank of America President, encourage the crowd to give generously.

This year’s partner charities include Metropolitan Family Service, New Avenues for Youth, Friends of the Children-Portland, YWCA Clark County and Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel.

A wide range of packages, vintage wines and international excursions were auctioned off during the course of the night. The highlight of the auction and the evening was the new BMW i8 plug-in hybrid sports car. Two bidders in Portland each paid $240,000 for cars for a total of $480,000. Donated by presenting sponsors, Kuni Automotive and Kuni BMW, they are the first BMW i8s to be sold in the Pacific Northwest and two of only 900 that will be sold in the U.S. this year.

In 2013, the event raised $2.9 million. Established in 1984, the auction has raised more than $33 million and assisted over 700,000 children and families.

Elisa Klein

I’ve been a professional journalist and writer since 1987, (and long-time reporter for KOIN-TV.) As a nationally published reporter, with a Master’s Degree in Journalism, I love to report positive news and information. Journalism has also connected me with another non-profit where I served as a leader; the Northwest’s biggest writer’s organization: The Willamette Writers.