THE PAVILION PARTNERS HOSTS ANNUAL WINE DINNER & AUCTION BENEFITTING FINE ARTS SCHOLARSHIPS

The Woodlands, TX – The Pavilion Partners, the official volunteer organization of The Center for the Performing Arts at The Woodlands, home of The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, hosts its 10th Annual Wine Dinner & Auction March 30 at The Club at Carlton Woods in The Woodlands.  The wine and hors d’oeuvres reception begins at 5 p.m. followed by a seated dinner at 6:30 p.m.  The cost to attend the event, which raises money for The Pavilion’s educational programs and Partners Scholarship Fund, is $150 per person. 

In addition to fine food and wines - wines sponsored by Northern Trust - the evening includes a live auction , bid board auction and silent auction featuring a selection of wine-related items, leisure packages, private dinners and tastings and more.  Net proceeds from the live auction benefit The Pavilion Partners Scholarship Fund. The remainder of the proceeds benefit The Pavilion’s educational outreach programs.

Last year, more than $115,000 was raised at this event with $89,000 from the live auction which went to the scholarship fund.  In 2007, The Pavilion Partners awarded $62,500 in scholarships to 33 graduating high school seniors from 15 local high schools and 17 renewal scholarships to recipients studying fine arts in college.  Scholarships are awarded to students in the following categories: vocal music, instrumental music, theatre arts, dance, visual arts and computer graphic arts.  The awards, based on talent and academic performance, are presented each spring.  Since its inception, The Pavilion Partners has awarded more than $260,000 in scholarships to students studying the arts.

The 10th Annual Wine Dinner & Auction this year honors the founding organizers of the event. Nancy Battle, Nell Belanger, Sylvia Caracio and Suzanne Ellis will be honored for their generous support of the arts, The Pavilion and the entire community. All four women founded and organized the annual Wine Dinner, but it was Sylvia’s husband who suggested the idea of a Wine Dinner to help raise funds for the fine arts scholarships 10 years ago. Along with Nancy, Nell and Suzanne the Wine Dinner has been a success each year.

Nancy Battle has not only served on The Pavilion Partners Board, but has served on several boards in the community including Interfaith of The Woodlands, Goodwill Industries of Houston and Cypress – The Woodlands Junior Forum and The Woodlands National Charity League Chapter. She is actively involved with the Montgomery County Woman’s Center.

Nell Belanger is one of the founders of The Pavilion Partners and the annual Wine Dinner. She was committed to scholarships arm of Partners from the beginning and served on the scholarship committee for several years. She also served on The Pavilion’s Board of Directors. Nell is a past president of Montgomery County Woman’s Center and serves currently as treasurer and co-chairwoman of their Transitional Housing Committee. She is also currently serving as treasurer of the Peace and Justice Network of Montgomery County.

Sylvia Caracio is also one of the founder organizers of The Pavilion Partners. Sylvia was a teacher for many years. Sylvia currently serves on the Montgomery County Youth Services Board and the Alley Theatre Board.

Suzanne Ellis is also one of the founders of The Pavilion Partners and served as the first president. Suzanne has been active as a volunteer for several organizations over the years including Cypress – The Woodlands Junior Forum, Zeta Tau Alpha alumnae group, American Heart Association, Northwest Assistant Ministries, Northwest Houston Chamber of Commerce, Klein Education Foundation Board and Interface Samaritan Counseling Center.

The 10th Annual Wine Dinner & Auction committee includes Bunny Benditz, Sylvia Caracio, Mike Cote, Gaye Craig, Betty Harman, Cindy Notarainni, Jeff Shipley, Debbie Stanford and Ryan Stick.  Co-chairing the committee are Randy Lowry and Sol Sachs.

For more information about The Pavilion Partners 10th Annual Wine Dinner & Auction, or the organization, please contact Charlotte Weschler at 281-210-1122 or cweschler@woodlandscenter.org.