Blakesley Chappellet Appointed Inaugural V Foundation Wine Celebration Vintner Ambassador

The V Foundation Wine Celebration announced today that it has named Blakesley Chappellet of Chappellet Winery as the V Wine Celebration’s inaugural vintner ambassador. The V Foundation’s 18th annual Wine Celebration weekend, its yearly signature event to raise funds for cancer research, takes place in the Napa Valley August 4-7, 2016.

“Cancer is a challenging opponent. I've watched dear friends and family members take it head on with courage and determination. Some have won, others have fought long and hard but lost,” said Chappellet. “I support The V Foundation because they apply that same energy and conviction to fundraising. They don't give up. I firmly believe that if we all take up the fight, pool our talents and unleash our collective energy, we can beat cancer. We will beat it.”

“We are very fortunate to have Blakesley as our inaugural vintner ambassador through 2017,” said Julie Allegro, founder of The V Foundation Wine Celebration. “The wine industry is an essential component of this annual event, and Blakesley’s leadership, knowledge and passion are vital to its success. We have much to learn from her.”

As vintner ambassador, Chappellet will play a key role in helping The V Foundation Wine Celebration to raise awareness and funds, particularly within the wine industry.

A former marketing executive and senior vice president at Bank of America, Blakesley left her post at BofA to lend her talents to the nonprofit sector, serving as the executive director of the San Francisco 49ers Foundation, and then creating the Guild of Sommeliers Education Foundation helping thousands of young sommeliers advance their careers. Her nonprofit volunteer efforts include board roles with the OLE Health Foundation, The V Foundation Wine Celebration and Stoecklein Foundation. Over the last decade, Blakesley’s efforts have helped raise nearly $10 million at charity auctions in the Napa Valley and across the country.

ABOUT THE V FOUNDATION FOR CANCER RESEARCH

The V Foundation for Cancer Research was founded in 1993 by ESPN and the late Jim Valvano, legendary North Carolina State basketball coach and ESPN commentator. Since 1993, the foundation has funded more than $150 million in cancer research grants nationwide. One hundred percent of the net proceeds from events support all the work of The V Foundation. Due to generous donors, the foundation has an endowment that covers administrative expenses. The foundation awards peer-reviewed grants through a competitive awards process vetted by a Scientific Advisory Committee. For more information on The V Foundation or to make a donation, please visit jimmyv.org.

ABOUT THE V WINE CELEBRATION

The V Wine Celebration is a world-class wine event and auction benefiting The V Foundation for Cancer Research. Set in Napa Valley, the heart of California Wine Country, this annual special event brings together 500 prominent members of the sports broadcasting, entertainment, media, lifestyle, technology, investment, medical and winemaking worlds to raise money to fund vital research in the fight against all types of cancer. The V Wine Celebration has helped fund 600 research programs at medical and research facilities across the country. Dedicated to giving back to the generous Napa Valley and surrounding communities that have so enthusiastically embraced it, the foundation has included many Bay Area institutions among its grantees, including St. Helena Hospital, Napa's Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa, Stanford University and UC San Francisco. Founded by Julie Allegro, The V Foundation Wine Celebration has grown to be to one of the top-rated charitable auctions in the country. For more information, visit winecelebration.org.