Sudbury Sunrisers host Vive le Vin event

Community members were out in their best attire at the Caruso Club Saturday night to support the Sudbury Sunrisers Club at its fourth annual Vive le Vin event.

“We do everything we can this night to raise money so we can give it away,” said Darlene Palmer, the event's chair.

Last year's Vive le Vin event raised more than $40,000 for a number of local charities.

While the final tally was not ready by Saturday night, a number of local organizations were set to benefit from the evening's proceeds, including the KICX for Kids Clubhouse at Health Sciences North, Sudbury Developmental Services, the Sudbury Charities Foundation, Wild at Heart, and the Sudbury Sunrisers Rotary Club's own Rotary Park near the Adanac ski hill.

Palmer said the club also plans to help fund an infant vaccination program in Tanzania with any funds it raises.

As the event's name would imply, Vive le Vin, featured wines from Chile, South Africa, the United States, Argentina, Spain and France. Attendees' $125 tickets allowed them to taste any of the wines.

After the Sudbury Sunrisers paid for the venue and the evening's entertainment, all funds raised from ticket sales were set to go to charity.

The evening also featured a silent auction, which raised $10,000 last year, and a reverse draw for a trip for two to anywhere Porter Airlines flies, and $1,000 in cash.

With 385 tickets sold, Palmer said she expected funds from this year's Vive le Vin event to exceed last year's total.