"Rockin' Around" big, gay, holiday party nets $2k+ for Napa shelters and foodbank

Got a great email in the Fruit's inbox this morning and had to share the great news:

Together we raised $2,253.80 to help the hungry and homeless in Napa County at “Rockin’ Around – a Holiday Party” on Sunday! We'll be delivering checks to both the Napa Valley Food Bank and the Napa Valley Shelter Program today in the amount of $1,126.90.

Special thanks to:

• Kinyon Gordon and the folks at Kinyon! Culinary Services and The Centre Cafe at the Made in Napa Valley Culinary Center. Leilani was absolutely amazing.
• DJ Rotten Robbie - the man sure knows how to "pump up the volume" so we can "dance, dance, dance"!
• The volunteers - Rob Meason, Renee Babcock, Juli Sanchez, Tom Roberts, Josie Jenkins, Janice Morrish, Robbie Hayes, Jim Estep, Randy Martinsen, Annie "the" Baker, TJ Danser, Jorge Contreras and Eric Oesterle.
• The wineries and tasting rooms that donated wine that was served at the event and sold at the silent auction. Thanks to White Cottage Vineyard, Herb Lamb Vineyard, Napa Valley Wine Train Wine Store, Beringer Vineyards, Silverado Trail Wine Studio (Bighorn Cellars, Expression and Tetra), Ascentia Wine Estates (Gary Farrell, Buena Vista Carneros, Geyser Peak and Atlas Peak Winery) and, of course, Poem Cellars.
• Everyone who attended! I think it's safe to say that "a good time was had by all"!

Here are a few financial facts:

• your bids in the Silent Auction raised more than $500
• your song requests to the "Human Jukebox" raised over $400
• you tossed more than $100 into the "Friends don't let friends dance with change in their pockets" donation buckets
• local businesses made more than $4,100 of "in-kind" donations (food, wine, space rental) in support of the event

Again, thank you for your support of the Napa Guerilla Gay Bar and your community. There will be folks this holiday season with a roof over their heads and food in their bellies because of you!

Watch for even more fun with the Napa Guerilla Gay Bar in 2010. Make sure you follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

It's awesome to know that we can do such good at the same time as having so much fun. Thanks to Rick and the crew who organized and volunteered. I'm ready for more in 2010!