Cincinnati International Wine Festival awards $261,000 to 31 organizations across the region

The Cincinnati International Wine Festival recently presented $261,000 in donations to 31 Greater Cincinnati organizations, including several from Northern Kentucky, who benefited from the festival’s fundraising efforts over the 2021-2022 fiscal year totaling $520,000.

The organization has has now raised more than $6.75 million in total for local non-profits since its inception 31 years ago.

The announcements were made at a private, invitation-only event at the Kenwood Country Club earlier Sept. 13. Leaders from the organizations receiving awards were present, and each received a portion of the festival’s donation in the form of individual checks presented to each charity.

“It is such a joy for us to be able to say we have now raised more than $6.75 million for our local charitable beneficiaries focused on our community’s arts, education, health and human services,” said Connie Wiles, Cincinnati International Wine Festival Board President. “Like all non-profits, we struggled through the challenges of the pandemic, but remained dedicated to doing whatever we could to ensure our mission to celebrate the wine industry and give back to our community continued on no matter what. We are grateful for the support of wine lovers near and far, and sincerely thank every single person who attended our amazing festival events this year. Thank you for giving back one glass at a time!”

The Cincinnati International Wine Festival is a non-profit organization founded in 1991 to celebrate the wine industry and raise funds for charities focused on the arts, education, health and human services. The annual celebration is recognized as one of the Midwest’s largest and most prestigious festivals.

Like many charitable causes, the pandemic has had a significant impact on the festival’s ability to regularly host its events the past three years, making this fundraising achievement even more impressive.

The Cincinnati International Wine Festival is comprised of five prominent annual events: an international wine competition, a winery dinner series, grand tastings at the Duke Energy Convention Center, and a charity auction and luncheon, all of which were held in May rather than March for the first time ever this past year due to COVID concerns. The Russ Wiles Memorial Golf Tournament will be held this October.

Proceeds from these annual activities translate into significant funds raised which are then granted to the wine festival’s local charitable beneficiaries on an annual basis.

In 2023, the wine festival expects to return to its usual schedule, with the bulk of its events being held in March. Save the date for the 32nd annual festival, set for March 9-11. Learn more at winefestival.com.

2021-2022 Cincinnati International Wine Festival Beneficiaries

• ALS Association Central and Southern Ohio
• Alzheimer’s Association Greater Cincinnati
• Asian Community Alliance
• Cancer Family Care
• Carnegie Arts Center
• Catholic Inner-city School Education (CISE)
• CHNK Behavioral Health
• Cincinnati Ballet
• Cincinnati Public Radio
• Cincinnati Symphony Club-Audrey Dick Scholarship
• Cincinnati Works
• Concert Nova
• Crayons to Computers
• Dan Beard Council Boy Scouts of America
• de Cavel Family SIDS Foundation
• Dress for Success
• Fernside
• Freestore Foodbank
• Kentucky Symphony Orchestra
• Linton Chamber Music Series
• Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly
• Master Provisions
• May Festival
• Mercy Neighborhood Ministries
• Miami University Foundation – Donald E. Becker Memorial Scholarship
• Midwest Culinary Institute at Cincinnati State
• Project Peace
• Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Cincinnati
• Special Olympics Hamilton County
• Stepping Stones
• Tender Mercies
• Women Helping Women

Cincinnati International Wine Festival