Pictured above: Uncork the Night event chairs Anu Jain, Betty Tong, Joe Tafoya, Molly McConkey, Akhtar Badshah, Dana Frank, Stacy Lill, Michael Thompson, Randi Brazen, Trish Carpenter and Cathi Hatch.
Nearly 500 guests gathered in the glittering Grand Ballroom of the Hyatt Regency Bellevue on Saturday, October 8th for Bellevue LifeSpring’s 2016 Uncork the Night: A Celebration of Wine and Giving.
Raise Your Glass
Guests arrived in bold and colorful cocktail attire, ready for a night of wining, dining and a making a difference. They kicked off the evening with an exclusive tasting from Quilceda Creek Vintners, accompanied by paired hors d’oeuvres served by the lovely ladies of Animate Objects. Sipping and strolling, they made their way through silent auctions and bid to win VIP winery tours, signed Seahawks jerseys and highly-rated wines from around the world.
Ryan Wenzel Events transformed the room with black and white stripes, polka dots and swirls, bathed in blue light, and added bistro tables, sleek, white couches and ottomans for lounge-style seating.
Raise Your Paddle
This year’s event also played host to Honorary Chair Leslie Jackson Chihuly, President and CEO of Chihuly Studio and Chihuly Workshop, and her husband Dale. Chihuly Studio generously donated an incredible dinner for 10 at the Chihuly Boathouse, with special guests Stacy and Greg Lill of DeLille Cellars, paired wines, a five-course meal designed and prepared by Chef John Howie and a special performance by members of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity sparked a bidding war between two attendees during the live auction, which concluded with a final winning bid of $20,000!
Another live auction highlight included event chair and former Seattle Seahawk Joe Tafoya taking the stage as Auctioneer Jeff Stokes sold two field-level Red Zone Suite tickets to an upcoming Seahawks game. Joe signed a football (also signed by Seahawks Michael Bennett and Jimmy Graham) for the lucky winning bidder at their table and paused to take selfies with the guests.
Raise Up Your Community
Finally, attendees wrapped up their evening on a black and white-checkered dance floor, moving and grooving to a live DJ and trying their luck at opening one of three locked treasure chests. One lucky winner was birthday girl Mimi Worzel, who took home a bundle of fantastic wines to top off her evening out.
“It truly was a remarkable night,” said Executive Director Jennifer Fischer. “The generosity of our community and this spectacular celebration of giving was amazing. The money raised will help to provide meals for kids who are at risk of hunger in our community. More than 3,700 children are living in poverty in Bellevue and 250 are homeless. These are the kids that we will be supporting with the gifts from our giving donors.”
Thanks to our generous community, Uncork the Night surpassed its fundraising goal! You helped to bring in more than $590,000 for Bellevue kids and their families living in poverty. We’re truly inspired by the show of support we received from Uncork the Night attendees, sponsors, donors, committee members and event chairs. You are empowering families in Bellevue to write a different story with a happier ending.
