Alpha Omega Foundation Raises $100,000 for Wildfire Relief
RUTHERFORD, Calif. — January 30, 2018
When the wildfires swept through Napa Valley on the night of October 8, 2017, the phones at Alpha Omega started ringing almost immediately. Wine Club members. Longtime customers. Friends of the winery. All of them asking the same question: how can we help?
Robin and Michelle Baggett had an answer. And on January 30, 2018, they delivered on it.
The Alpha Omega Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the winery, raised $100,000 for Napa Valley wildfire relief and presented 100% of those funds to two local organizations at the winery in Rutherford.
Where the Money Went
Not one dollar went to administration or fundraising costs. Every cent raised went directly to the community.
The funds were split between two recipients:
- $95,000 to the Napa Valley Community Foundation’s Disaster Relief Fund, accepted by NVCF President Terence Mulligan
- $5,000 to the Rutherford Volunteer Fire Department, received by Volunteer Chief Davie Piña
Several donors who purchased seats at the upcoming Big Bottle Benefit BBQs earmarked their spots specifically for first responders.
“With this extraordinary gift from the Alpha Omega Foundation, we will be able to support hundreds of local residents who are still struggling to recover from the October wildfires.”
— Terence Mulligan, President, Napa Valley Community Foundation
“These funds are greatly appreciated and will go directly toward buying supplies and tools for the firehouse to improve training and preparation for the next fire.”
— Davie Piña, Volunteer Chief, Rutherford Volunteer Fire Department
How the Foundation Raised $100,000
The Alpha Omega Foundation set a clear and urgent goal: raise $100,000 as fast as possible, because the needs in the community were immediate.
To get there, the Foundation did two things. First, it opened the door for Alpha Omega Wine Club members and winery supporters to donate directly. Second, it sold buy-a-spot seats for $500 each to its Big Bottle Benefit BBQs, to be held at Alpha Omega on July 27 and July 28, 2018. The events themselves are being fully underwritten by the winery, ensuring every dollar from ticket sales goes to relief.
“During the fires, we had an outpouring of concern from our Wine Club members and customers with many asking, ‘How can we help?’ My heart told me that we had to give our Alpha Omega friends the opportunity to support our community. We created a goal of donating $100,000 as quickly as possible since the needs were immediate. This was a family effort of friends of Alpha Omega, and we are so grateful to be able to support the Rutherford Volunteer Fire Department and the Napa Valley Community Foundation with these two checks.”
— Michelle Baggett, Executive Director, Alpha Omega Foundation and Co-Vintner, Alpha Omega
A Community That Rallied Together
The wildfire relief effort did not begin on January 30. It began the night the fires broke out.
October 8, 2017 was the final day of the PGA Tour’s Safeway Open in Napa Valley. Alpha Omega had already pledged 10% of tasting room wine sales during the tournament to Samaritan’s Purse for hurricane relief, inspired by PGA Tour players Chesson Hadley and Scott Brown. That donation totaled $10,000.
When the fires ignited that same night, the scale of what the community needed became clear very quickly.
“Little did we know that our community would be devastatingly impacted by wildfires and that our calling to help communities rebuild after a natural disaster would continue on in our own neighborhood.”
— Michelle Baggett, Co-Vintner, Alpha Omega
In the days that followed, Alpha Omega joined several Napa Valley wineries to donate 100% of tasting fees on October 22, 2017 to the NVCF’s Community Disaster Relief Fund. The winery also partnered with Operation BBQ Relief, a 501(c)(3) disaster relief organization, providing 10 BBQ units and the Baggett BBQ Team to help prepare more than 30,000 meals for emergency personnel and evacuees during the crisis.
“Besides providing 33,000 meals to first responders during the October wildfires, everyone at Alpha Omega wanted to do a little more to help those still recovering from the wildfires.”
— Robin Baggett, Co-Vintner, Alpha Omega
Robin and Michelle Baggett also made a personal donation of $25,000 to the Tipping Point Emergency Relief Fund, benefitting Napa and Sonoma Relief. It was not the first time they had stepped up this way. In 2015, Alpha Omega helped raise $100,000 for Lake County residents affected by the Valley Fire.
About the Alpha Omega Foundation
The Alpha Omega Foundation, founded in 2016, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to inspire and encourage charitable giving in the next generation of Napa Valley’s leaders.
The Foundation supports organizations and initiatives that energize the Valley with a sense of responsibility for building on a strong tradition of goodwill. It aims to empower all people and visionary companies to realize their value to philanthropic causes.
Crucially, the Foundation does not use any donated funds for administrative or fundraising costs. 100% of all monies raised go directly toward its mission.
About Alpha Omega
Founded in 2006 by Robin and Michelle Baggett, Alpha Omega began as a direct-to-consumer pioneer and now sells 95% of its wine through this channel. Located on Highway 29 in the legendary Rutherford Bench of Napa Valley, Alpha Omega produces world-class, Bordeaux-style, handcrafted wines made with grapes from prized, historic vineyards.
With its landmark fountains, tranquil pond and stunning views of the Mayacamas Mountains and vineyards, the winery exudes a sense of place and offers hospitality reflective of the farming community. Alpha Omega’s land and winery are Napa Green certified.
