Wine Charities Rise to the Occasion: Oregon’s Newest Supports First Responders

We all know wine people are the best people, and they also are exceptionally philanthropic. In Oregon alone, I can think of more than a dozen wineries with specific charity programs.

Perhaps the newest philanthropic endeavor is from Southern Oregon’s 2Hawk Vineyard & Winery—thriving under the dedicated ownership of Jen and Ross Allen. Their new 9-1-1 Fund is an act of generosity that will benefit their entire community.

The idea came naturally to the Allens, who were looking for a way to support the people who so heartily welcomed them when they purchased the winery in 2014. Ross’s 17-year background in law enforcement had given the couple a deep appreciation for the men and women who put themselves in peril to keep the rest of us safe. The new 9-1-1 Fund will support projects and equipment purchases for first responder agencies in Jackson County. 2Hawk will donate more than 50% of the proceeds from the 9-1-1 Wine’s first release.

“We made a pallet of this wine—56 cases,” Jen said. “We expect to have $10,000 to give away, and if it’s successful, we will make more next year.”

9-1-1 Wine by 2Hawk Vineyard and WineryThe wine was released September 27 at a party in honor of National First Responders Day. First responders and their friends and family came to celebrate all they do to keep our citizens safe.

“We had a record-setting day—mostly from sales of the new 9-1-1 red blend we produced in honor of first responders,” says Ross. “I saw a lot of first-time visitors, and nearly every first responder agency in the Valley was represented. It was rewarding to see them here with their families enjoying the beautiful autumn afternoon, especially knowing 50 percent of proceeds from the 9-1-1 wine go to a new fund supporting projects and equipment purchases for first responder agencies in Jackson County.”

Captain/Paramedic Chuck Glose of Medford Fire-Rescue says that while the Medford team feels supported by the community, this specific program lends even greater support. Captain Glose is especially excited that the 9-1-1 grants could potentially be used to help responders with issues like depression and PTSD.

Because of Captain Glose’s 19 years in the fire service and time in the military before that, he and Ross have developed a friendship.

“Ross contacted me about finding a local fire charity he and Jen could support, but there weren’t a lot of options,” Glose said. “That’s when the Allens decided to start something themselves.”

Other Oregon wineries have also taken it upon themselves to support causes meaningful to them. For example, Dauntless Wine Company, Gaston, was founded by three Iraq War veterans. Each bottle of Dauntless Wine helps a veteran transition from the battlefield to the home front. With the mission to give back to warriors in need through charitable contribution, Dauntless donates 100% of year-end profits to veteran causes. To date, they have donated or contributed more than $3,500 toward veteran causes and plan to continue their mission.

McMinnville’s Dobbes Family Estate has an ongoing program. Each quarter, a different employee has the opportunity to select a cause that has special meaning to them. During that quarter, they feature a select wine in the tasting room and donate 10% of its sales to the chosen charity.

This is the tip of the iceberg when it comes to wineries doing what they can to help make the world a better place (by even more than making great wine). Investigate which wineries in your region are doing, and help spread the word. Start here by posting a reply to this blog with the details. Cheers!

The newest philanthropic endeavor is from Southern Oregon’s 2Hawk Vineyard & Winery. Click To Tweet

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *