MUSKEGON ROTARY CLUB’S 13TH ANNUAL GRAPE ESCAPE SUPPORTS COMMUNITY CHARITIES
September 21 Event Helps Fund Muskegon Area Promise and local Rotary Projects
MUSKEGON, MI – The Muskegon Rotary Club’s 13th Annual Grape Escape – the region’s premier wine, craft beer, and food tasting event – is scheduled for Wednesday, September 21, 2016 at 6:00 p.m. and is returning to the Bella Maria’s Ristorante and Event Center, 513 W. Pontaluna Road in Norton Shores, Michigan. This newly remodeled facility, located at the Oak Ridge Golf Club, offers an expanded location for the Muskegon Rotary Club’s largest annual event.
This year’s non-profit partner is Muskegon Area Promise, and proceeds from the event will support the Promise. The Muskegon Area Promise unprecedented commitment to the young people of our community, guaranteeing that if they work hard they will be able to earn at least a two-year college degree tuition-free. Scholarships fund an Associate’s Degree or Certificate program at Muskegon Community College or Baker College of Muskegon. Eligible students are those who live in and graduate from a high school located within MAISD boundaries and have a high school graduation GPA of 3.5 or higher. Additional proceeds from the Grape Escape will help fund other Muskegon-area Rotary projects.
The annual Grape Escape tasting event features wines from over a dozen Michigan wineries, along with microbrews crafted in Michigan and local Muskegon County breweries including Pigeon Hill, Unruly and Fetch. Guests will also enjoy delicious food from hometown restaurants. Unique Silent Auction items donated by local merchants will go to the highest bidders.
“The Grape Escape is an enjoyable, relaxing evening for guests to mix and mingle as they sip wine and microbrews and sample the area’s finest foods, while helping to provide and promote programs that are beneficial to our community,” said Deni Hunter, event co-chair.
Tickets for Grape Escape are $40.00 per person. For your convenience, tickets may be purchased online through the Muskegon Rotary Club’s Facebook page (facebook.com/muskegonrotary), Muskegon Rotary Grape Escape Facebook page (facebook.com/rotarygrapeescape), or on the club’s website at www.muskegonrotary.org (click on the Grape Escape Link and then the Order Now button). Tickets may also be purchased in person at Rotary Club regular meetings.
Muskegon Rotary: Rotary began as an idea more than 100 years ago. Today, Rotary flourishes worldwide with 1.2 million members in more than 200 countries and geographical areas. The Muskegon Rotary Club was chartered on May 1, 1916 as Rotary International’s 216th Club. We are in District 6290, our club number is 2806. The Object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise.
Muskegon Area Promise: Why do YOU need to further YOUR education? In days past, the West Michigan job market offered a good living without college or even a full high school education. Today we live in a globally-oriented, knowledge-driven world where 53% of Job postings require a certificate, an associate’s degree or a bachelor’s degree. By 2025, this number is projected to rise to 64% of Muskegon’s current workforce, only 31% have these types of post high school degrees. Megan Byard-Karaba, College Access Specialist Muskegon Area Intermediate School District 231-767-3601, mbyard@muskegonisd.org,
For additional information about the Muskegon Rotary Club’s Grape Escape event on September 21, please contact: Deni Hunter (deni@ilikemg.com) or Mary Beth Ramos (Marybeth@ramosautobody.com).