Marin Foster Care Association’s annual Blues & Brews epic fundraising weekend was held Oct. 4 and 5 at Pacheco Ranch Winery in Novato, drawing in more than 350 guests in support of Marin’s foster youth and their caregivers.
Jazz, Food and Fun
The weekend festivities kicked off in style with The Gumbo Band, who welcomed all guests with New Orleans style jazz, and later paraded them to their seats for dinner. Attendees enjoyed fare by Sage Catering, Lone Mountain BBQ, Davey’s Jambalaya and Siren Sisters throughout the weekend, along with delicious treats by Marin-based Johnny Doughnuts. Later in the evenings, DJ Josh kept guests dancing well into the late hours.
A Year of Marked Success
Executive Director Ashley Hurd shared Marin Foster Care Association’s yearlong achievements, including the crowning accomplishment of purchasing a 10-unit apartment building in Novato dedicated to housing transition-age foster youth. She also outlined MCFA’s support of additional Bay Area resource centers for foster families in Solano and San Francisco counties.
In addition, three resource parents led a discussion on how Marin Foster Care has helped support them and their families with resources like kids clothing and shoes, grants for summer camps and sports gear, as well as mental health resources and support groups.
A Sponsor Thank You
A number of event sponsors came together to make the weekend event a success, including Soundvision, Citizen’s Private Bank, Dodge & Cox, Goldman Sachs Philanthropy Fund and Stephen and Sandy Janachowski. Beverage sponsors included Barebottle Brewing Co., Best Day Brewing, Drake’s Brewing Co., Home School Craft Cocktails, Pacheco Ranch Winery and Pond Farm Brewing Co.
The event raised more than $450,000, via a fund-a-need and live auction led by auctioneer Liam Mayclem, a balloon pop, raffles and an online auction open throughout the weekend.
Photos: Courtesy of Marin Foster Association
A freelance writer in Marin who writes about family, kids and parenting, Glass is the mother to one son, one dog and a hamster named Miss Geri. When she’s not writing, trekking up steep hills in Marin or driving her kid to sports practice, she and her family spend time in their tiny cabin in Lake Tahoe. She avidly supports the California Academy of Sciences, a world class science museum and research institution, and the Institute on Aging which provides much needed services to Bay Area seniors and disabled adults. Glass is obsessed with baking the perfect loaf of banana bread, something she makes so often she no longer needs to look at a recipe card.
