You are visiting the 2006 website - please click here to go to the current site.


Sonoma's 21st Annual Salute to the Arts
Salute Celebrates Coming of Age with food, wine, art & music at the Peak of Perfection

About Sonoma Salute to the Arts

The Mission of Sonoma Salute to the Arts / Proceeds / Sponsorship / Behind the Scenes / Special Wine Offer / 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. 2005's theme, "A SALUTE TO ART DECO," celebrated the 1920s with the Bounty of Sonoma County.

This year's theme is "Sonoma Salute to the Arts Comes of Age! ~ Celebrating with food, wine, art & music at the Peak of Perfection!"

The Salute Celebration will launch this Northern California ultra premium masterpiece in Sonoma Plaza on Friday evening, July 28 following the judging of the Salute to the Arts Visual Art Competition. 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 29 and 30, 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 Salute to the Arts Live Auction & Dinner will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Saturday evening, July 29, at Sonoma Golf Club.

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.

In 2000, 2001, and 2005, the City of Sonoma has recognized the success and influence of Sonoma Valley Arts Alliance and Salute to the Arts through proclaiming the period when Salute occurs to officially be SONOMA SALUTE TO THE ARTS WEEKEND.

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 Dennis Ziemienski, 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 20th annual Salute to the Arts was sponsored by ABC7, American Airlines, KGO Newstalk AM810, San Francisco Chronicle, WineCountry.com, Diablo Publications, Maserati of San Francisco, SBC, Viking Range / Gene Schick Company, and Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa.

Become a sponsor!

Sponsorships for the 21st annual Salute to the Arts are currently being solicited - please join us as a sponsor, patron, or benefactor for 2006! A list of 2005 sponsors is available by clicking here.

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

Robert Cherwink - Creative Director & Photographer
Rachal Cyphers - Sales Associate & Event Coordinator
Elizabeth Garneau - Special Promotions & Art Coordinator
Amber McCann-Howlett - Accounting Manager & Event Coordinator
Susie Probst - Administrative Assistant
Christine Ricketts - Production Manager & Print Coordinator
Tannia Summers - Director of Client Relations

Associates

Marchelle Carleton - Marketing Consultant
Connie McCann - Auction & Event Coordinator
Dave Ogaz - Print Project Consultant
Laura Lynn Ledson ~ Artistic Director
Jo Ann Tutor ~ Assistant Artistic Director
Sonoma State University ~ Costuming
Dianne Gray and Jo Nigro ~ Makeup & Hair
Carolyn Sanders ~ Choreographer
Sonoma Valley High School ~ Juggling Troup
Napa Regional Dance Company ~ Casting Assistance

Sonoma Valley Arts Alliance Board of Directors

Kate Murphy ~ President
Alex Flett ~ Vice President
Ann McDonald ~ Secretary
Claudia Wagar ~ Treasurer
Thomas Patrick ~ President Elect
Dick Cole
Mary Flett
Pam Lahey Hagen
Zachary McCormick

Salute Celebrities
- the Salute to the Arts Fundraising Committee (2005)

Larry Allen
Mary Evelyn Arnold
Julie Atwood
Kon & Arlene Balin
Dick & Brenda Buckerfield
Chuck Barr & Monica Davis
Hal & Gina Beck
Thomas Becker
Don & Katherine Black
Simon & Kimberly Blattner
Roberta Bleiweiss
Bill Blum
John Bouldt
Suzanne Brangham
Richard & Brenda Brooks
Steve & Shelby Brough
Ken Brown & Jewel Mathieson
Sam & Karen Brown
Curt Carleton
Daniel Casabonne
John & Stephanie Clark
Donna Collings
Karen Collins
Tom & Nancy Collins
Will Combs & Marjorie Bell
Earl & Patty Correa
Joe Cunningham
Steve Dale
Daniel De Stefano
Stephany Eddy
John & Deborah Emery
Erica Ercolano
Art Fichtenberg
Jim Ford & Barbara Butler
Joanne Foster
Jeanette Fung
Guillermo & Junny Gonzalez
J. Basil Haddad, M.D.
Anita Haywood
Peter & Maggie Haywood
Jamie & Kristi Herold
Frieda Holleran
Virginia Hubbell
Inge Hutzel
Bob Jarvis & Cheryl Widiss
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
Valerie Little
John & Suzanne Maib
Kay Maynard
Henry & Diane Mayo
Mike Marino
Wanda McAleese
Lolita McKinney
Kevin & Rosemary McNeely
Manuel Merjil & Paul Curreri
Sally Mertes-Stone
Lee Meyer
Zino Mezoui
Ron & Dodi Middlebrook
George & Buffington Miller
Irving & Joan Mills
Kris Moe
Christine Mueller
Davis Oster
Nicki Naylor
Nancy Needham-Simpson
Gary & Elsa Nelson
Robin Nelson
Jack & Hope Nisson
Lisa Nowell
Steve & Judy Page
Dan Parks
Paula Parks
Dennis & Kathrin Parsons
Fred Perry & Barbara White Perry
Bucky Peterson
Nedra Peterson
Rhoda Peterson
Wendy Peterson
Betty Pommon
Robert & Sandra Powell
Terance & Melissa Redmond
Bonnie Reynolds
Donna Robbins
Hank & Cathie Sandbach
Morgan & Joanne Sanders
Susan Scarborough
Wilhelmina Schnitzer
Jerry Seltzer
Steve & Marjorie Shank
Vance & Monika Sharp
Tina Shone
Ed & Linda Sillari
Mike & Jill Silvas
Preston Sitterly
Sandy Snorey
Edward Sohl & Linda Rapinski
Lise Sonnen
Gene & Cathie Sperring
Bob & Carolyn Stone
Jonelle Birney Sullivan
Maureen Sullivan
Rick Sullivan
Peter & Michelle Tovar
Lynette M. Viau
David Viviani
Keith & Terry Wicks
Dennis & Anne Ziemienski


Special Wine Offer

Deerfield Ranch Salute to the Arts Coming of Age wine, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, is available for purchase from the winery.

Fifty percent of sales will benefit Salute to the Arts.

Click here for details.


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. Please plan to enjoy numerous non-alcoholic offerings as well. Special thanks to FIJIĀ® Natural Artesian Water!


Sonoma Salute to the Arts would not exist were it not for the continuing support of restaurants and wineries, all of whom are solicited every day to serve up their products to benefit good causes. We invite you to recognize their generosity and to make these restaurants and wineries your first choices when dining out or purchasing wine. Our growing list of sponsors has also allowed Salute to the Arts to blossom.


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:



Back to Top

You are visiting the 2006 website - please click here to go to the current site.