This year’s charities are: Bags of Hope, Napa firefighters, Cope, CASA A Voice For Children, Community Resources for Children, Boys & Girls Club of  Saint Helena and Calistoga, Napa Valley Food Bank, Napa Valley Spay/Neuter Network, Cybermill Clubhouse, NEWS, Vine Village,  Special Olympics,  Napa Valley Support Services,  Hospice of NV.

The chairwoman of this year’s event is Chandra Brouillette at North American Title, 255-1900 or cbrouillette@nat.com.

This year’s event will be held Dec. 13, at the Masonic Temple from 8-10 a.m. More than 250 Realtors and real estate related affiliates attend. There is a silent auction, live auction and a raffle. This year’s auctioneer is former Napa Chief of Police, Dan Monez.

To make a tax deductible contribution or donate an item to be auctioned, call Marcia Hadeler at Coldwell Banker Brokers of the Valley, 815-0569 or mhadeler@cbnapavalley.com

Vintner Mike Grgich receives honorary diploma of honor

Napa Valley vintner Miljenko “Mike” Grgich was presented with a Diploma of Honor from the University of Zagreb in his native Croatia.

He was the only honoree living outside of Croatia to receive the recognition.

Born in Croatia, one of 11 children, Grgich studied winemaking and viticulture at the University of Zagreb and then left to escape communism. He eventually arrived in Napa Valley in August 1958 — just in time for crush.

He has worked for some of the legends of Napa Valley: Lee Stewart, of the original Souverain Cellars; Brother Timothy at Christian Brothers; then almost nine years for André Tchelistcheff at Beaulieu Vineyards; quality control for Robert Mondavi and then winemaker and limited partner at Chateau Montelena, where the chardonnay he crafted won the famed 1976 Paris Tasting, before starting his own winery.

On Independence Day 1977 Grgich and Austin Hills broke ground in Rutherford to build Grgich Hills Cellar. Grgich Hills Estate was founded in 1977 by Grgich and Austin Hills of the Hills Bros. Coffee family.

Leadership Napa Valley’s 21st Class on way

As the first month of the nine-month program approaches its end, Leadership Napa Valley Class XXI is on its way to becoming a better-informed and more skilled group of leaders for the community.

Members of Class XXI are: Kathy Baird, administrative assistant, Napa Valley College Foundation; Milagros Castro. owner/consultant, Olive Orchard Management; Elizabeth Champion, sales representative, Aflac; Ernie Falcon, sales representative, AAA; Eva Garcia, appraiser Wachovia Real Estate Loan Group; Linda Griffiths, proprietor, Linda’s Creative Gifts of Napa Valley; Paul Hicks, vice president, Payroll Masters; Brad Jameson, attorney, Phillips, Spallas & Angstadt LLP; Cyndi Kasten, personnel director, city of Napa; Brenda Knight, president, Brenda Knight and Associates; Tracy Krumpen, winery unit account manager, Sander Jacobs Cassayre Insurance; Kent Kuhlmann, financial advisor, Retirement Capital Strategies; P.J. LoDuca, executive director of community outreach, Queen of the Valley Hospital; Annie Madden, owner/inspector About the House Inspections; Mike Manfred, associate attorney, Gaw, Van Male, Smith, Myers and Miroglio; Liliana Mattis, owner/broker, Fidelity Realtors; Olivia McCormick-Pippert, assistant principal, American Canyon Middle School; Nelia Medeiros, Realtor, J & R Wilson Real Estate; Coreen Pinney, vice president/senior relationship manager, the Mechanics Bank; Candiss Pridmore, Realtor, Morgan Lane; Felix Riesenberg, principle water resources engineer, County of Napa; Michael Strong, broker/owner, Realty World Napa Valley; Gina Stutchman, owner, the Arbors; Jennifer Thomas, stylist, Bernie’s Hair and Nail Salon; Tyler Ticen, financial advisor, Merrill Lynch; Jeff Troendly, commander, city of Napa Police Department; Beau Van Deren, managing director, Oak Creek Finance Consulting; and Katherine Zimmer, director of marketing, Napa Chamber of Commerce.

The LNV board is headed by President Rex Stults, with Jaye Vanderhurst,  vice president; Pat Burke, secretary; and Skip Keyser as treasurer. New Board members this year are Jason Lewis, Julia de Natale and Lisa Batto, graduates of LNV Class XX. Program coordinator is Jill Techel, assisted by Susan Schiff and Bob Fioretti. 

Info, www.leadershipnapavalley.com or talk to an LNV graduate.