It was another big night for education: Saturday's Manhattan Wine Auction - one of the most anticipated social events of the year - raised nearly $1.4 million net for the Manhattan Beach public schools.

The sold-out event drew more than 2,200 guests to the Manhattan Country Club, where attendees celebrated with food, libations, live and silent auctions, and dancing under the stars.

“The longstanding 30-year tradition of the Manhattan Wine Auction holds a special place in the hearts of our community members," said Manhattan Beach Education Foundation Executive Director Hilary Mahan. "The outpouring of support from the entire community is unmistakable year after year, but this year was particularly special. We are so fortunate to live in a community that values high quality education. It was evident in the stellar number of volunteers, guests, auction items, restaurants and wineries. Everyone stepped it up to celebrate the 30th anniversary.”

(Photo via MBEF)

At the Manhattan Country Club, which has served as host for the past three decades, guests enjoyed samples from local favorites including BOA Steakhouse, BREWCO, Fishing with Dynamite, Fresh Brothers, Gelato & Angels, The Hook & Plow, Joey, Lido di Manhattan Beach, Love & Salt, Manhattan Bread & Bagel, MB Post, Mercado, Nick's, Paradise Bowls, Rock'N Fish, Simmzy's, Panchos, The Arthur J,The Strand House, SusieCakes, Sushi Roku, Tacolicious, and Zinc @Shade Hotel.

The exclusive Reserve Room hosted 500 guests and featured tastings of rare wines from wineries such as Memento Mori, Vineyard 7 & 8, and spirits from Tequila Mandala.

The silent and live auctions raised a combined $650,000 plus, and featured a wide array of packages, including vacation getaways, sports and entertainment items, beauty and health offerings, jewelry, art, culinary experiences, and one-of-a-kind opportunities. The auction also included more 750 bottles of wine donated by members of the community and wineries from throughout California and beyond.

The event has grown substantially over the years. The first Wine Auction was held in 1995 at the Manhattan Country Club and included 10 restaurants, 15 wineries, and 21 live lots. This year, the event featured a total of 50 restaurants, 80 wineries, breweries, and distilleries, 23 live lots and more than 400 silent auction items.

Local businesses served as major sponsors including founding sponsor Chevron; Estate Sponsors Desolation Hotel, Skechers, Withycombe Family, and Yoffe Cooper; and Vista sponsors including Akin, JP Morgan, and Kirkland & Ellis; with the Bay Club serving as host.

Funds Go Toward MBEF Endowment

While the Manhattan Wine Auction has grown significantly over time, its purpose has remained the same: to raise funds to ensure that Manhattan Beach public schools offer programs that enrich and empower students on their academic journey and well into their future.

Funds raised from the Wine Auction support the MBEF Endowment, which enables an annual disbursement to fund grants in the Manhattan Beach Public schools each year. In addition, the Paddle Raise adds a significant funding element directed to current programming.

This year’s effort was dedicated to restoring educator positions eliminated by the recent state budget cuts. MBUSD Board Members and employees, MBEF Board Members, parents, and alumni raised their paddles and donated on their phones to support the Paddle Raise. Every dollar raised will be directed to bringing educators who inspire students back to the classroom for the 2024-2025 school year. (Note that donations are still being accepted for the Paddle Raise through the Manhattan Wine Auction.)

(Hilary Mahan and Jake Dax. Photo via MBEF.)

Jake Dax, serving as the event chair for the second year, said that he was heartened by the outpouring of support. “MBEF was founded to promote academic excellence in our public schools, which remains our singular focus," he said. "We are fortunate to have so many people in our community who share our vision, and who support our organization in so many ways.”

“Donors don’t give to institutions; they invest in ideas and people, and there is no better example than the Manhattan Wine Auction," added Mahan. "We are investing in public education, our children’s future and building community at the same time. I am overwhelmed each year by the excitement the Wine Auction brings – from the volunteers, to the restaurants, wineries and other beverage partners, to the donors and the guests who set their alarms on May 1 to buy tickets – these are the people that make the Manhattan Wine Auction the iconic fundraising event that it is.”

Oshiro Honored For Contributions

At Saturday's event, MBEF presented its 2024 Legacy Award to John Oshiro. Introduced in 2020, the Legacy Award honors individuals, families and businesses who have demonstrated a truly exceptional commitment to the mission of MBEF. Oshiro has served in various capacities as an MBEF Board Member, a member of the Wine Advisory Board, and three-time Wine Auction Chair. In addition, he and his wife Jeanne have donated more than 850 bottles of wine to the Manhattan Wine Auction over the past 25 years.

(John Oshiro. Photo via MBEF.)

“My direct involvement with MBEF and the auction ended in 2009 when my one and only daughter graduated from Costa in 2008. But I continue to donate to the auction and support MBEF," said Oshiro. "Along the way, I have learned a lot about wines, music and athletic programs, and school funding. But I have also made life-long friends with students, parents, teachers, school boards, and City Council members. I don’t know how much time, money, or wine I have given, but I know I have received even more back in sharing once in a lifetime experiences and a fine glass of wine with the best folks in Manhattan Beach."

MBEF Grants Millions to MBUSD

The Manhattan Beach Education Foundation is a community-driven fundraising organization that supplements state funding for programs to inspire learning, enrich teaching, and promote innovation and academic excellence in the public schools of Manhattan Beach. In the 2023/24 school year, MBEF funded over $6.1 million to MBUSD.

All proceeds from the Manhattan Wine Auction benefit the MBEF Endowment Fund, which provides MBEF with a continuing and sustainable funding source, helping to make up for the instability of public school funding at the state level. The annual contribution to MBEF’s programs in the 2023-24 school year will exceed $1.1 million, accounting for 19% of MBEF’s overall grant to the district.

Over its 40-year history, MBEF has donated over $100 million to the Manhattan Beach Unified School District and has helped to transform MBUSD into one of the top-performing districts in the state.