SF: The Gettys Show Appreciation To Festival Del Sole Major Donors And Sponsors

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer Photography

Gordon and Ann Getty recently hosted the annual Napa Valley Festival del Sole Fall Appreciation Dinner at their Pacific Heights home to recognize the major donors and sponsors who made the 10th season of the annual arts and culture celebration its most successful yet. At the dinner, festival co-founder and president Rick Walker shared that during the 2015 festival, one in every four concert seats was free of charge to local residents and that the festival was awarding $275,000 in grants to arts education programs in schools throughout Napa County. He also announced that the 2016 festival season would be dedicated to board member and longtime supporter Margrit Mondavi, a longtime advocate of the arts, philanthropy and the Napa Valley. Festival del Sole 2016 will be held July 15 – 24, 2016.

During the 11th edition of Festival del Sole, Mondavi, a Napa Valley icon, will be honored with performances and events reflective of the Mondavi family’s Italian heritage and their belief that wine, food and art are to be celebrated together.

“Margrit’s influence on Napa Valley Festival del Sole has been profound,” said Board Chairman Darioush Khaledi. “Her unstinting spirit and dedication to the arts has served as one of our guiding forces and inspired us all. On behalf of her fellow board members, we are immeasurably grateful for Margrit’s leadership, example and friendship.”

This year, the festival established an arts education fund in Margrit Mondavi’s honor. Over $200,000 was awarded at a grant ceremony earlier this month at Lincoln Theater in Yountville. Grant recipients include 30 arts education programs at 16 local public schools, Arts Council Napa Valley Education Alliance, the Napa Valley Youth Symphony and the Lincoln Theater’s Artist in Residence Music Program.

Passes for the 11th Annual Festival del Sole go on sale in March 2016. To learn more, visit festivaldelsole.org.