December 12, 2013 – Now in its 27th year, Auction of Washington Wines announced today that the new co-chairs for its annual weekend of events will be Marty and Megan Clubb, owners of L’Ecole No. 41 winery, and Frank and Charlene Blethen, of The Seattle Times and its affiliate newspapers, the Yakima Herald-Republic, the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin and The Issaquah Press.
Marty Clubb of L’Ecole N° 41 winery
The co-chair role is generously served by regional leaders in the wine industry or business community who share a passion for furthering Washington’s wine industry and a desire to bring awareness and funds to uncompensated care at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Throughout the two-year position, the Blethens and the Clubbs will work with the organization to build industry and community support of the event while helping to create financial growth.
Marty and Megan Clubb, Co-Chairs
Marty is managing winemaker and co-owner of L’Ecole N° 41 with his wife Megan. Marty and Megan assumed the operation of the winery from Megan’s parents, Jean and Baker Ferguson, in 1989, six years after the winery’s founding. Along with his estate vineyards, Marty personally works with over 20 vineyards located throughout the Columbia Valley, and is a managing partner in Seven Hills Vineyard and the SeVein Vineyard development located in the Walla Walla Valley, along with partners Leonetti Cellar and Pepper Bridge Winery.
Nationally respected for his leadership in the wine industry, Marty has served more than 20 years on the boards of various wine industry associations, including the Washington State Wine Commission. He is currently president and director of the Washington Wine Institute, and is one of two board members from Washington State for WineAmerica. Marty was instrumental in the founding of the Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance and served as its president for six years. Marty worked with other industry pioneers in the development of the Walla Walla Community College Center for Enology and Viticulture.
Megan is currently CEO of Baker Boyer Bank in Walla Walla, the oldest baking institution in Washington State. She also serves on the Board of the San Francisco Federal Reserve.
“We are thrilled to participate as co-chairs for the 27th annual Auction of Washington Wines,” said Marty Clubb. “After more than 30 years in the Washington State wine industry, it will be our pleasure to help celebrate the region’s bounty while collectively giving back to those in need.”
Frank and Charlene Blethen, Co-Chairs
Frank Blethen is the fourth generation leader of the Blethen family, local owners of The Seattle Times. He serves as publisher and CEO of The Seattle Times/seattletimes.com, the second largest newspaper and website on the West Coast, winner of nine Pulitzer Prizes and a Pulitzer finalist fifteen other times since 1990. The Times is in its 117th year of Blethen family stewardship, and is one of the few remaining locally owned newspapers in the United States. The Blethen family also owns the Yakima Herald-Republic, the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin and several Seattle-area weeklies, including The Issaquah Press.
Charlene Blethen has worked as a professional fund raiser for regional nonprofits including United Way of King County and the Museum of Flight, and has served on the boards of Seattle Children’s Home, Parent Trust and Mavia. For the past ten years, she has been an active board member for the YWCA of Seattle-King-Snohomish, formerly a board chair. She is also involved in volunteer and philanthropy activities with The Kindering Center in Bellevue.
Frank is a strong advocate for independent journalism, family-owned businesses, and a leader in the national movement opposing further media consolidation. In 2011, he was the first publisher to be awarded the American Society of News Editors’ News Leadership Award.
“We are honored to be involved with this distinguished event which showcases family-owned wineries across the state,” said Frank Blethen. “This is a wonderful opportunity to promote Washington’s remarkable wine producers, while at the same time caring for families in need in our community. We look forward to working with this great organization.”
The 2014 Auction of Washington Wines
The Auction of Washington Wines is comprised of five events including Revelry on Red Mountain in the Tri Cities area (Spring 2014), Picnic & Barrel Auction at Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery (August 14, 2014), Winemaker Dinner Series at various locations throughout the Puget Sound region (August 15, 2014), Columbia Winery Run/Walk and The Wine Gala at Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery (August 16, 2014).
Since its inception in 1988, the Auction of Washington Wines has raised more than $30 million for uncompensated care at Seattle Children’s Hospital, whose core mission is to provide world-class care for every child in the region, regardless of a family’s ability to pay. A portion of the money raised also benefits Washington State University’s Viticulture & Enology Program, which aims to strengthen the quality and reputation of the Washington wine industry by providing support toward a world class viticulture and enology research, extension, education and training program specific to Washington State University.
“We are thrilled to have Frank and Charlene Blethen and Marty and Megan Clubb as our co-chairs. As stellar leaders in our community and industry, they will continue the tradition of great leadership for our organization. We look forward to combining resources and talents for another successful Auction of Washington Wines,” said Sherri Swingle, Auction of Washington Wines Executive Director.
About the Auction of Washington Wines
Since its inception in 1988, the Auction of Washington Wines has raised more than $30 million, with a majority benefitting uncompensated care at Seattle Children’s Hospital. This distinguished event gives wine lovers the chance to help the Washington wine industry bridge a critical funding gap for children across the Northwest. The 2014 Auction of Washington Wines will take place August 15-17, 2014. Co-chairs are Frank and Charlene Blethen of The Seattle Times and Marty and Megan Clubb of L’Ecole No. 41 winery. Major sponsors have included Chateau Ste. Michelle, Holland America Line, John L. Scott Foundation, King 5 TV, Seattle Magazine, Tulalip Resort Casino, Viking Range, Sterling Bank, Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card, CKA Creative, and Wine Spectator. www.auctionofwashingtonwines.org.
About Seattle Children’s Hospital
Consistently ranked as one of the best children’s hospitals in the country by U.S. News & World Report, Children’s serves as the pediatric and adolescent academic medical referral center for the largest landmass of any children’s hospital in the country (Washington, Alaska, Montana and Idaho). For more than 100 years, Children’s has been delivering superior patient care and advancing new treatments through pediatric research. Children’s serves as the primary teaching, clinical and research site for the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Washington School of Medicine. The hospital works in partnership with Seattle Children’s Research Institute and Seattle Children’s Hospital Foundation. Together they are Seattle Children’s, known for setting new standards in superior patient care for more than 100 years. www.seattlechildrens.org.
About Washington State University’s Viticulture & Enology Program
The Washington State University Viticulture and Enology Program aims to strengthen the quality and reputation of the Washington wine industry. Proceeds from the Auction of Washington Wines fund research within the program.