Walden Family Services hosted its signature annual fundraising event Wine D'Vine 2026 on Thursday, Oct. 1, bringing together approximately 70 community leaders, philanthropists, and friends of Walden for a magical night of fine wine, extraordinary cuisine, and heartfelt purpose, all in support of youth in foster care across Southern California.
Hosted at the stunning Solana Beach home of renowned chef Jeffrey Strauss of Pamplemousse Grille, who personally curated the evening's exceptional culinary pairings, guests raised a glass to changing lives while enjoying an intimate, elegant setting.
As this year's Wine D'Vine honorees, Julie and Dale Yahnke, longtime champions of the San Diego community, were recognized for their extraordinary generosity and lasting impact on the lives of children, youth, and families. Walden is honored to celebrate their dedication to creating brighter futures and inspiring others to invest in our community's well-being. They received the Fostering Care Legacy Award at the event.
"Walden Family Services is committed to ensuring every young person who has experienced foster care has the support they need to thrive," said Teresa Stivers, CEO, Walden Family Services. "This year is particularly special as we celebrate our 50-year milestone of supporting youth and changing lives, and to honor champions like Julie and Dale Yahnke, whose generosity has helped make that work possible."
This year marks the 20th year of Wine D'Vine, a night that blends celebration with purpose. Guests helped raise $152,000 in support of Walden's mission, an achievement made even more meaningful as the organization marks 50 years of standing beside youth and families across Southern California.
"Julie and I are deeply honored to be recognized at this year's Wine D'Vine, but the real credit belongs to the young people who show such resilience every day," said Dale Yahnke. "Supporting Walden Family Services has been one of the most rewarding parts of our lives, and we're grateful to stand alongside a community that believes, as we do, that every young adult deserves the chance to build an independent, fulfilling life."
Approximately 70 guests enjoyed an exceptional menu and curated wines planned by Chef Jeffrey Strauss himself. "Opening our home for Wine D'Vine each year is one of the highlights of our calendar, and celebrating its 20th year alongside Walden's 50th anniversary made this evening especially meaningful," said Chef Jeffrey Strauss of Pamplemousse Grille. "Good food and wine have a way of bringing people together, and there's no better reason to gather than helping young people who are aging out of foster care build a strong start on their own."
Guests bid on a lineup of live auction items, including a 24-person dinner at Pamplemousse Grille, a Fleur de Lis 14K white gold necklace featuring 0.69 carats of diamonds, a 7-night stay in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and a private guided tour of Zaplin Lampert Gallery on Canyon Road, with auctioneer Clint Bell leading the bidding. Guitarist Austin Cosler set a soulful, laid-back ambiance throughout the evening with his instrumental performance. The program also included remarks from a current graduate student studying criminal justice, who shared a moving reflection on her experience with Walden.
Stivers and her team also took the opportunity to share with guests the vision of the organization for the next 50 years, as Walden refocuses as a comprehensive support hub for transitional age foster youth, ages 18 to 26, the group of young adults who are aging out of the foster system without a family safety net and who face extremely challenging circumstances that largely define their lives in a critical eight-year window. "Walden's youth services, which include transitional housing and extended care programs, provide stable housing, mentorship, financial literacy training, and independent living support to help young people build the skills needed for adulthood," says Stivers. "Through trusted relationships and family-centered care, we're here to empower our young adults to achieve lasting independence."
Wine D'Vine 2026 is sponsored by many community leaders and businesses, with Sommelier Sponsors: Peterson Reporting and Scatena Media Group; Harvest Sponsors: Gay & Lesbian Fund for San Diego of The San Diego Foundation, Leslie & Jim Levinson, Arlene Lieberman, Patty Moises, Rancho Mesa, and Julie & Dale Yahnke; Culinary Experience Underwriter: Dreamscape Real Estate; Ambiance, Decor, and Youth Speaker Underwriter: Mesa Rim Climbing Centers; and Ambiance and Decor Underwriters: Tina Asmar and Jeff Platt & Gina Lew.
For more information about Walden Family Services, to make a contribution, or to view upcoming events, please visit waldenfamily.org.
About Walden Family Services
Walden Family Services is a nonprofit human services organization with 50 years of experience supporting children, transitional age youth, and families across Southern California. Founded in 1976 and headquartered in San Diego, Walden is recognized for its leadership in foster care advocacy and transitional housing for young adults.
Walden believes housing stability paired with financial readiness is one of the most powerful — and often overlooked — tools for preventing child abuse and breaking cycles of instability. Over five decades, the organization has evolved to meet the changing needs of children and families, with a growing focus on housing solutions for transitional age youth, including young parents, who face housing instability through no fault of their own.
As Walden looks to the next 50 years, it will expand stable housing opportunities, strengthen prevention services, and continue to serve as a trusted partner to youth, families, property managers, donors, and government agencies across California. Learn more at www.waldenfamily.org.
About Julie and Dale Yahnke
For nearly two decades, Julie and Dale Yahnke have been a quiet but steady force behind some of San Diego's most important work for children and youth in foster care. As Walden Family Services' 2026 Wine D'Vine Honorees, the Yahnkes are being celebrated for what the organization describes as a lifelong "commitment to strengthening the San Diego community through thoughtful philanthropy, compassionate leadership, and a deep belief in helping others succeed" - nowhere more evident than in their support for young people leaving the foster care system.
Dale, a San Diego native and co-founder and Co-CEO of Dowling & Yahnke Wealth Advisors, has spent more than three decades building both a respected investment advisory practice and a parallel record of civic generosity. For years, he has served on nonprofit boards and championed fundraising efforts on behalf of San Diego's foster youth, bringing the same discipline and hands-on approach that has defined his career to the cause of making sure children in the system are seen, supported, and advocated for.
Julie and Dale made their first gift to Walden Family Services in 2009 - the same year Dowling & Yahnke, now Corient, became one of the organization's major donors. Nearly two decades later, their commitment as 2026 Wine D'Vine Honorees reflects a relationship that has only deepened - one rooted in a shared belief that young adults aging out of foster care deserve the resources, opportunities, and encouragement they need to build independent, fulfilling lives.
Dale often credits his father, a WWII veteran who came of age during the Great Depression, with instilling in him the belief that community giving is simply what you do. Julie and Dale live in the Carmel Valley area of San Diego and keep looking for new ways to make sure the region's most vulnerable young people have someone in their corner.
MENU SERVED BY CHEF JEFFREY STRAUSS OF PAMPLEMOUSSE GRILLE
Reception: Grilled Lobster Quesadillas with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce; Tiny Kobe Burgers with Truffle Cheese; Crostini with Heirloom Tomatoes, Mozzarella, Basil; Shitake Mushroom Shu Mai a la Crème; Wonton Chips with Hamachi Tartare and Crispy Capers; Mini Duck Tacos with Hoisin Sauce
First Course: Smoking Seafood Platter with Lobster, Shrimp, Scallops, Crab Claws, Jumbo Lump Crab, Nori Ahi, Smoked Salmon, Oysters, Mussels, Clams, Cajun Sea Bass and Kimchee Seafood Martini with Cocktail and Mustard Chive Sauces / Alternate: Heirloom Tomato & Burrata Salad, Baby Arugula, Aged Balsamic Vinegar
Second Course: Duo of Korean Marinated Skirt Steak and Miso Black Cod with Vegetable Fried Rice, Ginger Snow Peas, Ginger Soy Beurre Blanc / Alternate: Crispy Tofu with Vegetable Fried Rice, Ginger Snow Peas, Ginger Soy Beurre Blanc
Dessert: Chocolate Espresso Tart, Blueberry Compote, Whipped Cream, Fresh Mint / Key Lime Tart with Coconut Meringue, Blueberry Compote
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