2021 V Foundation Wine Celebration Raises $12 Million
Annual Signature Event Far Surpasses Fundraising Goal 
Coach K embraces Michael Marks who with his bid of $1 million won a weekend trip to the coach's final home game.
(Photo: Business Wire)
NAPA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The V Foundation for Cancer Research, announced the 2021 V Foundation Wine Celebration raised more than $12 million during a full weekend of events in the Napa Valley, with proceeds supporting cutting edge immunotherapy research. As part of their efforts, the V Foundation for Cancer Research partnered with the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy (PICI) to co-fund up to four Parker Bridge Fellows grants for early career researchers.
The 2021 Wine Celebration weekend was hosted by Duke University Head Men’s Basketball Coach Mike “Coach K” Krzyzewski, V Foundation Board Member and ESPN “SportsCenter” Anchor Sage Steele, ESPN College Basketball Analyst Jay Bilas and featured CNN Commentator Paul Begala as a guest speaker.
The highlight of this year’s event was the live auction gala. The evening’s top lot fetched $1 million for The Legend’s Last Legacy, Duke vs. UNC, featuring a once in a lifetime weekend trip to join Duke’s Coach K for his final home game.
Other top lots 40-Love of Wine & Tennis, the semi-finals & finals at Wimbledon with Beth Nickel of Far Niente and Nickel & Nickel, The Great American Race, joining multi-platinum recording artist and NASCAR team owner Pitbull for an all-access VIP experience , Taste of the Tuscan Sun, an exclusive Napa Valley, Tuscan and Umbria itinerary hosted by Marchesi Antinori and Antica Estate, A Feast Fit for the Gods, featuring Michelin-recognized chef Michael Mina for a feast of Mediterranean dishes, Award Winning Wine & Music, joining Shari and Garen Staglin for an entertaining winery dinner featuring a private musical performance with Tony- and Grammy-Award Winners Christian Hoff and Kate Taylor, and a Pebble Beach Lux Getaway with Robin & Michelle Baggett of Alpha Omega Winery and Rich & Leslie Frank of Frank Family Vineyards.
Since 1999, the V Foundation Wine Celebration has raised over $130 million to support the V Foundation and research by all-star scientists to accelerate victory over cancer. Currently holding 10 consecutive 4-star (highest) ratings from Charity Navigator, America’s largest evaluator of charities, the V Foundation is among the top 2% of all charities evaluated. The V Foundation is also a GuideStar Platinum-rated charity.
In its 28 years, the V Foundation has awarded more than $260 million in cancer research grants nationwide. Because of research, there are earlier diagnoses, a better understanding of what causes some cancers, more positive prognoses of some cancers, and therapies designed to kill cancer while preserving the patient’s overall health. The V Foundation distributes research grants for all types of cancer to the most promising scientists nationwide through a competitive process vetted by a Scientific Advisory Committee.
The 24th annual V Foundation Wine Celebration will be held on August 4-7, 2022.
For more information about this year’s Wine Celebration Weekend please visit www.winecelebration.org .