St. Mark’s-in-the-Valley Episcopal Church Cellar Classic Donates $12,500 to Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital Foundation

Representatives of St. Mark’s-in-the-Valley Episcopal Church visited the Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital in Solvang and presented a $12,500 donation check to representatives of the Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital Foundation recently. This donation was a portion of funds raised at the 4th Annual St. Mark’s Cellar Classic: An Auction of Rare & Fines Wines on June 29, 2013.

Stephen Pepe, co-owner of Clos Pepe Vineyards and Cellar Classic co-chair stated, “Our donation to the Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital Foundation represents a centuries-old tradition in the wine industry. It began in 1851 with the Hospices de Beaune wine auction that helps fund a hospital in France’s Burgundy region. We are proud to give funding to our local hospital in Solvang that cares for so many of our residents, workers and visitors.”

The Rev. Dr. Randall Day, St. Mark’s Priest & Rector remarked, “All proceeds from the Cellar Classic support local community programs and services as well as more than 60 area organizations that utilize St. Mark’s meeting and event spaces—such as the Santa Ynez Valley Jewish congregation, recovery groups, Food Bank, Santa Ynez Valley Master Chorale and Solvang Festival Theatre. We also actively support the arts with free concerts, exhibitions of painting, photography and sculpture. Our Pre-school provides top-flight early childhood education. St. Mark’s embraces a spacious Christianity where there is room for absolutely everyone.”

The Cellar Classic is coordinated by a committee of dedicated volunteers led by co-chairs Steve Pepe (owner of Clos Pepe Vineyards) and Brooks Firestone (owner of Curtis Winery). The Cellar Classic features both a live auction of rare, collectable wines such as Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Domaine de la Romanee-Conti and California cult wines conducted by professional auctioneer John Glines; as well as a silent auction of other fine wines, wine-related gifts and lifestyle packages. Bountiful gourmet hors d’oeuvres are served along with local wines accompanied by live entertainment.

The 5th annual Cellar Classic will be held from 4:00-7:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 28, 2014 at St. Mark-in-the-Valley Episcopal Church. Information on tickets and sponsorships will be available in mid-January 2014. To donate wine for the 2014 auction, contact Steve Pepe directly at steve@clospepe.com or call him at 805-735-7867.

About Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital Foundation

The Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital Foundation (SYVCHF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to develop, manage and channel the community’s financial support on behalf of Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital, thereby serving not only to protect, but also enhance the hospital as a valuable community asset. Founded in 1964, the not-for-profit Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital (SYVCH) provides high quality outpatient surgical services, inpatient care, comprehensive imaging (including MRI, CT, digital mammography, ultrasound, X-ray), on-site laboratory, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, physicians specialty clinic and 24-hour emergency services to the community. Located at 2050 Viborg Road in Solvang, SYVCH is part of the not-for-profit Cottage Health System, which includes Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital and its associated Cottage Children’s Hospital and Cottage Rehabilitation Hospital, and Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital. www.cottagehealthsystem.org

About St. Mark’s-in-the-Valley Episcopal Church: Formed in 1926 and serving the Santa Ynez Valley at its present location in downtown Los Olivos since 1979, St. Mark’s practices a spacious Christianity and welcomes people of all faiths or none. St. Mark’s is not only the home of a vibrant Episcopal congregation but also serves as a community center and meeting place for more than 60 organizations including the area’s Jewish worshippers, as well as Santa Barbara County Food Bank, theater groups, Rotary, non-profits and 12-step recovery groups. The on-premises professional Pre-School provides top-flight early childhood education. St. Mark’s actively supports the arts with musical concerts throughout the year as well as hosting exhibitions of photography and painting. St. Mark’s Cellar Classic annual auction of rare and fine wines supports all these community programs and outreach. The 5th annual St. Mark’s Cellar Classic is scheduled for Saturday, June 28, 2014. For more information, visit www.SMITV.org