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Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz to Release Charity Wines
May 5, 2011 - Boston, MA
Last night in the Foundation Room at House of Blues in Boston, MA, Boston Red Sox aces Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz released their own labels of Charity Wines. From this initiative, athletes do not profit a single dime. Instead, 100% of their proceeds will raise big league dollars for charity:
- Jon Lester: CabernAce – benefiting the Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. (Order Jon Lester's CabernAce)
- Clay Buchholz: ChardonClay – benefiting The Jimmy Fund. (Order Clay Buchholz' ChardonClay)
Bob Dougherty, the Director at the House of Blues, made the opening remarks to kick off the evening. Andrew Graff, president of Charity Wines then provided background on his company and all they do for great causes. Suzanne Fountain, Director of the Jimmy Fund, and Michael Rubin with Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, both presented what they are doing to help fight cancer. Then Heidi Watney led a Q&A session with Lester and Buchholz, as well as took questions from the audience.
The 2011 wines are produced by acclaimed the Selby Winery located in Healdsburg, California. Both wines retail for about $14 a bottle, and are currently available across Red Sox Nation in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. For wine connoisseurs and Sox fans out of region, wines can be purchased online at www.charitywines.com.
To date, Red Sox player wines sales have raised more than $685,000 for various charities. In 2011, the 9th and 10th Boston ballplayers suited up for a wine label to support their cause. Charity Wines debuted in Boston in 2007 with releases from Manny Ramirez (Manny Being Merlot), Curt Schilling (Schilling Schardonnay) and Tim Wakefield (CaberKnuckle). Charity Wines returned in 2008 with releases from David Ortiz (Vintage Papi), Jason Varitek (Captain’s Cabernet) and Kevin Youkilis (SauvignYoouuk Blanc). After a year hiatus in 2009, Charity Wines returned in 2010 with vino from Jacoby Ellsbury (ZinfandEllsbury) and Josh Beckett (Chardon-K).
More on the Wine Tasting & Launch Party
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More than 200 VIPs, special guests, members of the media, and the wine industry attended the Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz Invitation Only private launch party. NESN field reporter Heidi Watney was emcee. Those who attended tasted the wine for the first time, and spoke with Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz. The Jimmy Fund and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center also had booths so that more information could be learned about their commitment to the communities they serve. As the offiial print sponsor of Charity Wines, Boston Magazine was also on hand to distribute their baseball issue, with Jon Lester on the cover and a feature on both Jon and Clay inside the issue. |
About Charity Wines
After personal tragedies involving friends and family with cancer and heart disease, Andrew Graff started Charity Wines, a philanthropic division of his Massachusetts based company, VinLozano Imports Inc. With the goal of pairing fine wine with great charities, the Longball Cellars brand was born. Nationwide, more than 30 professional athletes across baseball, football and hockey have teamed up with Charity Wines to raise funds for great causes. Liquor stores or restaurants may place an order by contacting:
Andrew Graff
Charity Wines / VinLozano Imports
andrewgraff@vinlozanoimports.com
(978) 297-5477
Jon's cause: Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Jon Lester knows the importance of overcoming barriers in life and on the diamond. Less than two years after being diagnosed with lymphoma, he pitched the biggest game of his life, helping his ballclub win a world championship. That's why proceeds from Jon Lester's CabernAce support Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the development of targeted immunotherapies. This pitch helps researchers maximize the body's own ability to strike out disease so lymphoma patients can win their own games in life.
Learn more at www.fhcrc.org.
Clay Buchholz can be untouchable, proven by the no-hitter he tossed in just his second big league start. Yet, he reaches back and connects with those in need across the community. A portion of proceeds from Clay Buchholz’ ChardonClay support the Jimmy Fund, an official charity of the Boston Red Sox, in the fight against cancer at Boston's Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, helping to raise the chances of survival for children and adults with cancer locally and around the world. Cheers. Learn more at www.jimmyfund.org.
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