Northeast Opportunities for Wellness, Inc. (NOW) will hold its 6th Annual A Taste for NOW, A Taste for Life on Saturday, October 14th from 6:00 to 10:00 pm at Quinebaug Valley Community College. The event has become a celebrated annual tradition for the nonprofit, with 200 people attending and over $14,000 raised in 2016. Tickets to the event are available for $60 per person, with proceeds to benefit NOW’s youth scholarships and programs.
The event invites attendees to “taste” selections from the area’s top restaurants, caterers, and bakeries. All food provided is paired with beer and wine selections donated by Friendly Spirits. The list of 2017 participating restaurants includes: Black Dog Bar & Grille, Connecticut National Golf Club, The Courthouse Bar & Grille, The Crossings Restaurant & Brew Pub, The Dubliner Deli & Dairy Bar, The G Seven Catering Company, Giant Pizza, Inn at Woodstock Hill, The Lunchbox Catering Company, New York Pizza Company, Renee’s Working Girl Catering, Soleil & Suns Bakery, Sugar & Smoke, Victoria Station Cafe, and more to come. Friendly Spirits, which has provided the beer and wine pairings since the event was founded, will also donate 10{935c65a732af2bdfdcd0903b52ce42ca7e95cf00c7f9fc1a7b4e2b425875eda7} of sales made during the event to NOW. In addition to the beer & wine paired with restaurant and caterer samples, there will be a cash bar courtesy of The G Seven Catering Company.
Executive Director for NOW, Sarah Wolfburg reflected on the six years of the Taste event, “We are so thankful of the continued partnership with Friendly Spirits and the many restaurants & caterers that participate in this event year after year. It is a wonderful collaboration, and the result is a great evening of food, fellowship, and spirits.” This year’s event will move to a new location, Quinebaug Valley Community College in Danielson. Wolfburg noted, “Over the past six years, NOW has brought the Taste event to a variety of locations, each with their own unique ambiance. For 2017 we are excited to bring the event to QVCC and showcase how the college has grown and expanded.”
Live entertainment will be provided by the Junkyard Heartstrings, an acoustic duo cover band located in eastern Connecticut. The band features Heidi V. Sheldon on vocals and Jason M. Sheldon on guitar. The event will also feature raffle items donated by a variety of businesses. The funds raised at the event will assist NOW in their mission to introduce area children to fitness, nutrition, and sports. The event is one of several fundraisers NOW hosts throughout the year. Michele Geragotelis, NOW Board member and Fundraising Chair commented, “Our goal is to put the “fun” in fundraising, and the Taste truly embodies that motto. The best part of the Taste for NOW event is that every dollar raised goes back to the community, and specifically to children living in the 10-town area.”
Founded in 2011 by an all-volunteer board, Northeast Opportunities for Wellness is a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to making a positive impact in the lives of Quiet Corner children by insuring each child’s access to fitness, nutrition, and athletics. Serving the 10-town area of Northeast Connecticut, NOW partners with other local youth organizations to provide scholarships to children ages 3-14 who otherwise may not be able to afford such opportunities.
Tickets are currently available online and will also be available at select locations. Updates on participating restaurants and ticket locations coming soon!