SWFL Children’s Charities, Inc. presented its 2021 Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest on April 24, with Auction proceeds totaling more than $1.2 million in support of the nonprofit’s efforts to build a build the new SWFL Children’s Charities Eye Institute of Golisano Children’s Hospital for the children of Southwest Florida. Gifts pledged directly to the cause through the child art program and the Fund-A-Cause totaled nearly $700,000.
This new state-of-the-art facility will provide expanded Ophthalmology services to children across the region. The 2021 Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest’s storybook inspired theme, Out of the Darkness Into the Light, is touching given our current times and speaks to the struggles of children facing vision challenges and blindness. More than 200 bidders came together during the virtual Event and Auction of the 13th annual event, with Chef Vintner Dinners held at eight luxury venues throughout the region and one in Sonoma, California and festivities during the virtual event broadcasting live from one of the venues included the 2021 Honored Signature Vintner, Jean-Charles Boisset entertaining the crowd. Attendees also participated at home for the first ever SWFL Wine & Food Fest Wine Fest@Home experience.