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Sonoma's 18th Annual Salute to the Arts Celebrates
the Roots, Beauty, and Bounty of Sonoma County

About Sonoma Salute to the Arts

The Mission of Sonoma Salute to the Arts / Proceeds / Sponsorship / Behind the Scenes / See Also

An elegant and vibrant festival for connoisseurs, Sonoma's annual Salute to the Arts brings together visual, performance, and literary artists; and Sonoma County chefs, food producers, and winemakers.

This sumptuous, bountiful gathering attracts connoisseurs from throughout the Bay Area and across the nation, firmly establishing the name 'Sonoma' in the memories of those who attend, enticing them to return year after year. Events are themed each year. In 2002 we celebrated "Salute Royale - 002," our wine country version of the classic James Bond spoof, Casino Royale! Happy Trails, this year's theme, honors Sonoma County's agricultural heritage, cultural bounty, and natural beauty.

Sonoma's eighteenth annual Salute to the Arts is scheduled for July 25, 26 & 27. The Salute Celebration will launch this Northern California ultra premium masterpiece at Buena Vista Winery on Friday evening, July 25 at 7 p.m. Sonoma Salute to the Arts, the festival's showcase of the culinary, winemaking, visual, performing, and literary arts will take place in historic Sonoma Plaza on Saturday and Sunday, July 26 and July 27, with food and wine tasting from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and music and art from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The fifth annual Salute to the Arts Live Auction & Dinner will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday evening, July 26, at Chateau St. Jean in Kenwood.

See also: Your Invitation

The Mission of Sonoma Salute to the Arts

Founded in 1986 to showcase the food, wine, and art of Sonoma, Salute to the Arts raises funding for Sonoma Valley non-profit arts and cultural organizations

Proceeds

As Sonoma's aesthetic centerpiece and most dynamic fundraising vehicle for the arts, Salute to the Arts generates proceeds for numerous non-profit arts, cultural, and educational organizations. The Sonoma Valley Arts Alliance, the festival's non-profit sponsor, contributes net proceeds to participating organizations each year. Through Sonoma's annual Salute to the Arts, the Sonoma Valley Arts Alliance also funds scholarships for high school seniors interesting in pursuing careers in the arts. The scholarship fund, established in 1998, provides awards for music, visual art, theater art, and literary students. In 2002 awards for promising culinary and enology/viticulture students were added.

See also: Benefitting Organizations

Sponsorship

The weekend of events provides extraordinary exposure for sponsors through promotions, advertising, and presentation to 25,000 plus consumers. Sponsorships in a range of values are available.

Artwork by well known artist and illustrator Dick Cole, as well as media sponsorships valued at approximately $200,000, will assist Summers-McCann, Inc. Public Relations, the festival's founder and producer, to reach this targeted audience.

Sonoma's 18th annual Salute to the Arts is sponsored by Visa U.S.A., ABC 7, KGO Newstalk AM 810, American Airlines, Buena Vista Winery, Diablo Publications, Viking Range Corporation, WineCountry.com, and The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa.

Please see the Business Opportunities page for additional information.

The Non-Profit Sponsor: The Sonoma Valley Arts Alliance, established in 1986, assumed sponsorship of Salute to the Arts in 1988. The festival has enabled the Alliance to promote the arts; foster communication between artists, organizations, and the public; and to raise funding for the arts. Representatives from numerous non-profit organizations and businesses, as well as individual artists, comprise the organization's Board of Directors.

Behind the Scenes

Producer and Founder

Salute to the Arts was conceived and founded by Pat Summers of Summers-McCann Inc., Public Relations of Sonoma, California. Established in 1985, the firm has represented an array of businesses in Sonoma and Marin counties, San Francisco, and Napa Valley. Appreciation of the arts and Sonoma County's natural beauty, agricultural diversity, and many amenities, inspired the event's concept. Dedication to quality of presentation in every endeavor has guided its development.

Pat Summers ~ President / CEO

Marchelle Adams-Carleton - General Manager
Robert Cherwink - Creative Director
Barbra Fortier - Art Coordinator, Poster Sales & Distribution
Amber McCann-Howlett - Accounting & Customer Service
Manuel R. Merjil - Customer Service & Event Coordinator
Nancy Noleen - Media Relations Manager & Volunteer Coordinator
Deborah Shrum - Production Manager & Print Coordinator
Tannia Summers - Director of Client Relations

Associates

Connie McCann - Auction & Event Coordinator

Sonoma Valley Arts Alliance Board of Directors

Kate Murphy, President
Michael Holland, Vice President
Ann McDonald, Co-Secretary
Claudia Wagar, Treasurer
Dick Cole
Pam Lahey Hagen
Zachary McCormick
Thomas Patrick

2003 Salute Celebrities
- the Salute to the Arts Fundraising Committee

Starring Karen Collins & Steve Dale

Larry Allen
Mary Evelyn Arnold
Julie Atwood
Kon & Arlene Balin
Chuck Barr & Monica Davis
Hal & Gina Beck
Thomas Becker
Don & Katherine Black
Simon & Kimberly Blattner
Roberta Bleiweiss
Bill Blum
John & Annick Bouldt
Suzanne Brangham
Richard & Brenda Brooks
Steve & Shelby Brough
Ken Brown & Jewel Mathieson
Sam & Karen Brown
Dick & Brenda Buckerfield
Curt Carleton
Daniel Casabonne
John & Stephanie Clark
Tom & Nancy Collins
Will Combs & Marjorie Bell
Earl & Patty Correa
Joe Cunningham
Paul Curreri
Daniel De Stefano
Stephany Eddy
Howard Ehret
John & Deborah Emery
Erica Ercolano
Art Fichtenberg
Jim Ford & Barbara Butler
Joanne Foster
Guillermo & Junny Gonzalez
J. Basil Haddad, M.D.
Virginia Hubbell
Anita Haywood
Peter & Maggie Haywood
Jamie & Kristi Herold
Freida Holleran
Inge Hutzel
Timothy & Alishia Irish
Don & Kathleen Kiernan
Roy & Jean Knapp
Lou Ann Kosak
Norman Krug
Jim & Linda Kuhns
Steve & Holly Kyle
Bill Lanese
Jennifer Larmie
Karen Lecy
Marc & Brenda Lhormer
John & Suzanne Maib
Kay Maynard
Henry & Diane Mayo
Wanda McAleese
Lolita McKinney
Kevin & Rosemary McNeely
Sally Mertes-Stone
Lee Meyer
Zino Mezoui
Ron & Dodi Middlebrook
George & Buffington Miller
Irving & Joan Mills
Kris Moe
Christine Mueller
Nicki Naylor
Nancy Needham-Simpson
Gary & Elsa Nelson
Robin Nelson
Lisa Nowell
Steve & Judy Page
Dan Parks
Paula Parks
Dennis & Kathrin Parsons
Fred Perry & Barbara White Perry
Bucky & Wendy Peterson
Nedra Peterson
Rhoda Peterson
Betty Pommon
Robert & Sandra Powell
Terrance Redmond & Melissa Detert
Donna Robbins
Kent Routh
Morgan & Joanne Sanders
Susan Scarborough
Wilhelmina Schnitzer
Jerry Seltzer
Steve & Margorie Shank
Vance & Monika Sharp
Tina Shone
Ed & Linda Sillari
Mike & Jill Silvas
Preston Sitterly
Sandy Snorey
Edward Sohl & Linda Rapinski
Lise Sonnen
Gene & Kathy Sperring
Barbara Sommerville
Bob & Carolyn Stone
Maureen Sullivan
Peter & Michelle Tovar
Lynette M. Viau
David Viviani
Keith & Terry Wicks
Dennis & Anne Ziemienski


As a food and wine tasting event, Salute to the Arts is dedicated to responsible hospitality. We invite you to taste and experience Sonoma County's exquisite vintages and craft brews. Please plan to enjoy numerous non-alcoholic offerings as well. FIJIĀ® Natural Artesian Water will be available at all events.


Sonoma Salute to the Arts is a trademark of Summers-McCann, Inc. Public Relations.

Proceeds benefit Sonoma Valley arts and cultural organizations and art education programs; and fund art scholarships for graduating high school seniors.

See Also:



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You are visiting the 2003 website - please click here to go to the current site.