Sampling with the Sharks Raises More Than $176k

The San Jose Sharks roster, coaches, broadcasters, alumni and more than 260 guests helped the Sharks Foundation raise more than $176,000 at Sampling with the Sharks on February 16.
The annual wine tasting fundraiser included two hours of wine tasting, gourmet hors d'oeuvres provided by Le Papillon, as well as unique live and premier auctions, featuring one-of-a-kind experiences and autographed memorabilia.
As guests sampled wine from wineries such as Miner Family, Silver Oak Cellars and Vineyard 7&8, and enjoyed the acoustic jazz rhythms of live band, Over the Edge, they had the opportunity to purchase tickets for the Joe Escobar Diamonds Raffle.

One lucky winner took home the raffle's grand prize, a pair of Joe Escobar Diamonds 18kt white gold hoop earrings with more than 1 carat of diamonds valued at over $3,300. Other raffle prizes included an iPad Pro courtesy of Quill, bottles of Laird Family Estate Cabernet signed by a current Sharks player, an authentic jersey and tickets to an upcoming Sharks game. The Joe Escobar Diamonds Raffle raised $12,600 for the Foundation.
The evening's live auction, which featured unique player, alumni and wine experiences, raised nearly $60,000 alone. Two live auction packages went for $14,000 each and included: a once-in-a-lifetime experience tasting rare wines and a catered dinner in the caves alongside Sharks alum Dan Boyle at Pride Mountain Vineyards, while the Road Trip with the Team package has two guests packing their bags and joining the Sharks on their private chartered flight for an upcoming away game in Vancouver.
The premier silent auction also raised $51,000 and included exclusive signed memorabilia from the 2017 All-Star Game, World Cup of Hockey, framed photos of historical moments from the 2016-17 season and a number of unique wine bottles provided from participating vineyards.
Funds generated from this year's event are one of the most significant at any single fundraiser for the Sharks Foundation and will help improve the lives of underserved youth and families in the Bay Area, with partial proceeds benefitting San Jose Rotary Club's philanthropic project,
Rotaplast International
.
The Sharks Foundation would like to thank our Splash Sponsor, SAP; Sip Sponsor, S&M Moving Systems; Photo Booth Sponsor, Club Auto Sport; Event Partners: Joseph George Wines, TapSnap 1050, Allegra Entertainment & Events, and Signs Now; Food and Beverage Partners: Le Papillon, Frost Cupcake Factory, Aquafina, Pepsi, MillerCoors and Lagunitas Brewing Company; all the participating wineries who came and poured their finest wines, and to all the guests who attended and made this year's fundraiser one of the most successful Sharks Foundation fundraisers to date.