A few dozen REALTORS® gathered for a spirited candlelit event in support of the Manitoba Real Estate Association Shelter Foundation last month. Each person who attended the “Instant Wine Cellar” event was asked to bring along a nice bottle of wine instead of paying admission. Raffle tickets were then sold for all the bottles that were placed on display.
Lynda Sawkins of RE/MAX Performance Realty (pictured) was the lucky winner who went home with all 65 bottles of wine. Lynda said she plans to give everyone on her Christmas list two bottles each from the assortment of Malbecs, Cabernet Sauvignons, Pinot Grigios, Reislings and others.
The fundraiser also included a 50/50 draw that collected over $500. The winner received enthusiastic applause for donating the full amount back to the Foundation. A dozen bottles of wine were also auctioned off for $350 by MREA President Dan Wachniak, who comes from a family of generations of professional auctioneers.
MREA Shelter Foundation Board of Governors Chair Roger Burns encouraged the group to also take part in the Close a Sale, Open a Door campaign, where giving is made easy at $10 per completed real estate transaction.
In under two hours, the fun party raised over $3,000 for shelter-related charities in Manitoba and organizers have already received numerous requests to hold another instant wine cellar event soon.
