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Wine and Design, Raleigh’s first wine and painting party company, will be traveling to New Bern to help raise money and awareness for the Craven County Health Department Foundation. The fundraiser, which will be held on Sunday, November 6th from 3:30-6:00pm at Trent River Coffee Co., will raise money for respite for the organization’s hospice families.
Craven County Health Department Hospice has been providing in-home care and supportive services to individuals with a life-limiting illness and to their families in New Bern and Craven County since 1980. One of these services is respite. Respite care provides short-term breaks that help relieve stress, restore energy, and promote balance in the life of the caregiver. Respite services for caregivers can be expensive and are not covered by the Hospice Medicare Benefit. Due to this, most hospice families either rely on family and friends or, more often, do without. Uniquely, Craven County Health Department Hospice has the assistance of the Craven County Health Department Foundation, which covers the expense of this service, so respite is never a concern for its patients and their families.
Craven County Health Department Home Health and Hospice Volunteer Services Coordinator, Joan Whitley, has been with the organization since December 2010 and says that she is always looking for new and fun fundraising ideas. Both of Whitley’s daughters and her daughter-in-law have attended painting sessions at the Raleigh location and had a wonderful time.
“New Bern is a wonderful community that is very generous, and I try to provide events that everyone will enjoy and look forward to,” says Whitley. “I thought that Wine and Design would differ from the usual [fundraising] fare. We are very excited about this event and think it will serve as a great kickoff for National Hospice Month.”
Wine and Design first opened its doors in Raleigh in April 2010 as the dream of longtime friends and business partners Emmy Preiss and Harriet Mills. The wine/painting party concept was a first in the Triangle and has proven so popular, that Preiss and Mills currently have franchises operating in Wake Forest, Wilmington, Wilson, Jamestown, Cary, Charlotte, and Asheville.
The premise for the business is simple and has proven popular since its opening—Wine and Design (wineanddesignnc.com) provides the canvas, cover-up, paints, paintbrushes, and corkscrew and attendees provide a beverage of his or her choosing. Participants browse the studio’s website to find a painting they would like to replicate. Sessions are led by local artists that guide participants through a carefully-orchestrated, step-by-step process. Wine and Design accepts general reservations, but also books private parties. Hosting fundraisers have become increasingly popular at the studio, with a portion of the proceeds going directly to the cause.
“We’re excited to be traveling to New Bern to help Joan with such an important and critical cause,” says Preiss. “Emmy and I are so fortunate to have a business that allows both of us to support and raise awareness for such worthy organizations, like Craven County Health Department Hospice Foundation. I encourage anyone who hasn’t experienced the painting party concept to come out and join us. It’s a great way to have fun while supporting your community.”
Participants attending the fundraiser will be painting “Wine Bottles and Glasses”. Cost per person is $45.00. Hors d’oeurves will be served between 3:30-4:00pm, followed by the two-hour painting session. To reserve your seat, call (919) 374-0667. For more information about the Craven County Health Department Foundation, contact Joan Whitley at (252) 636-4930.
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