Gala Event Will Benefit The Roots Fund, Creating Opportunities for Communities of Color in the Wine Industry Call for Auction Donations
New York, NY (January 5, 2023) – The Roots Fund, a nonprofit dedicated to addressing diversity in the wine industry, and premiere auction house Zachys announced today that they have partnered again for the second annual The Roots Fund Auction Gala on Sunday, March 5th in NYC. The auction, which raised over $400K in 2022, will include a gala dinner, an in-person auction, and a virtual auction of wines and experiences donated by world-renowned estates and wineries from Burgundy to Napa Valley. The Roots Fund is requesting donations now.
Proceeds from both the in-person gala event and the online auction, both hosted by Zachys, will directly support The Roots Fund mission, which is focused on securing a pathway for the BIPOC community in wine through financial support for education, mentorship, and job placement opportunities. Created in 2020 by Executive Director Ikimi Dubose-Woodson, Hue Society Founder Tahiirah Habibi, and Master Sommelier and Managing Partner of Lawrence Wine Estates Carlton McCoy, Jr., the nonprofit has raised over $1 million and supported 155 scholars to date. The leadership is supported by current Board members and respected wine professionals Jeremy Seysses of Triennes and Domaine Dujac, Santosh Varghese of Fida Wine, the direct-to-consumer arm of VINTUS, and McCoy.
“The Roots Fund Auction Gala is one of the most exciting events of the year in New York City, and the Zachys wine auction component is the only one-of-its-kind directly connected to diverse representation in wine. In 2022, we premiered the largest sommelier team of color in the world and plan to exceed that this year,” says The Roots Fund Executive Director Ikimi Dubose-Woodson. “We are so proud of the impact we were able to have with the funds raised going directly toward education and enrichment trips for our scholars. The Roots Fund is out there ‘doing the work’ to create a more inclusive wine industry.”
The charity auction with Zachys will showcase rare wines and unique experiences from the most sought-after growers from Domaine Dujac, Heitz Cellars, Chartogne Taillet, Dominique LaFon, Domaine Drouhin, and more. The distinctive wine experiences will include trips in Burgundy, Champagne, South Africa, and Napa to name a few.
Julia Murray, Managing Director of Zachys Auctions added, “Zachys is proud of the impact we are able to have through our work with The Roots Fund. This auction will open opportunities for so many, changing the face of the wine industry for years to come. We hope that wine producers and collectors around the world will support us.”
To contribute a rare wine lot or experience to be auctioned to benefit The Roots Fund, contact charity@therootsfund.
To stay up-to-date about tickets to the event and the online auction, follow for updates on www.instagram.com/rootsfund/.
A dozen featured lots will be auctioned live to guests at the gala event in NYC on March 5th, in addition to bidding in the room, bids will be welcomed on the telephone, live online, or by submitting an absentee bid with Zachys in advance of the sale, via email or their website. Tickets will go on January 18th at therootsfund.org.
About The Roots Fund
The Roots Fund is a non-profit organization focused on securing the pathway for the BIPOC community in wine. Built to create financial support for education, mentorship, and job placement opportunities, The Roots Fund is out “doing the work,” to create inclusivity for communities of color in the wine industry. Since its foundation in 2020, they have raised over $1 million and created 155 scholarships that will bring years of change and equity into the wine industry. For more information and to learn how you can help, visit www.therootsfund.org.
About Zachys Wine
Zachys is the world’s premier auction house and purveyor of fine and rare wines. Founded in 1944, Zachys is a family-owned business headquartered in Westchester, NY with international offices in Asia and Europe. In 2022 Zachys sold over $150 million of fine wine and spirits globally, including working with organizations benefiting causes as diverse as City Harvest, Mt. Sinai Medical Center, the United Sommeliers Foundation, and more.
