The Charlottesville 29

There is a theme emerging in The 2019 Charlottesville 29 Restaurant Auctions: “kindness is contagious.” The generosity of our area’s restaurants has moved others to kindness, and so on. Vendors have eagerly offered to help. Blenheim Vineyards, already a donor for one restaurant experience, won an auction for another restaurant’s experience, to throw a party for their staff. A group of husbands pooled resources to win a wine dinner for their wives for a ladies’ night out.

And now, MarieBette and Early Mountain Vineyards. Among the leading bidders for MarieBette’s auction was UVa’s nationally renowned political scientist Dr. Larry Sabato, who had told his staff that if they picked their favorite auction offering, he would try to win it for them. They chose MarieBette’s Le Goûter for 12: “the auction winner and eleven guests will spend the afternoon enjoying a wide array of hand-made tea sandwiches and desserts from MarieBette’s kitchen, along with plenty of tea, coffee, and, of course, bubbly and rosé. When the party is over, the auction winner’s group will take home the perfect party favor: a full mixed case of Early Mountain Vineyards wine.” Unfortunately, Dr. Sabato’s bid fell just short. But, when MarieBette’s owners caught wind, they wanted to make sure Dr. Sabato’s kindness did not go unrewarded. So, they offered to do a second “Le Goûter for 12” if Dr. Sabato would make a donation to the food bank in the amount of his largest bid. What’s more, Early Mountain Vineyards agreed to donate another case of wine so that Sabato’s staff can take home a party favor, too, just like the auction winner’s group. 

Dr. Sabato gladly accepted. “It’s my privilege to help a great cause,” he said. 

Combined, the MarieBette “Le Goûter for 12″ experience for Dr. Sabato and the one won by the auction winner earned $3,000 for the food bank, enough to provide 12,000 meals for our area’s hungry. Thank you, Dr. Sabato. Thank you, MarieBette. 

Jump in the auctions, and follow their example.