Alumni association branches out with wine tasting fundraiser

Aug 19, 2018

The Dartmouth High School Alumni Association is growing, and its members hope new fundraisers and events will help generate more interest -- and funds -- for the nonprofit.

As part of that effort, a wine tasting fundraiser is generating much-needed buzz for the organization. Held on August 19, the event attracted dozens of alumni from the high school and people in the mood for wining and dining.

President Enid Silva said the event, hosted at the Dartmouth YMCA with wine provided by Coastal Vineyards, is helping the organization reach a younger audience.

“This is our second time coming out of the box,” explained President Enid Silva. “We used to just do our monthly suppers -- it’s our claim to fame -- but we felt as though we needed a bit of exposure to younger people.”

And it appears to be working. Several recent Dartmouth High grads and students volunteered at the event, including Val Paynton, who performed with the Dartmouth High School Alumni Band, and Shane Rose, who staffed the check-in table.

It was the association’s vice president, Susan Vaz Bullock, who came up with the idea for a wine tasting. She is a member of Coastal Vineyards’ wine club, and attended a similar event held to benefit the Dartmouth Dog Advisory Work Group.

“They had the fundraiser for the dog park, and I thought wouldn’t it be a good way to raise funds for scholarships for our alumni,” Bullock said.

The first event raised enough money to fund an additional $1,000 scholarship. The association handed out a total of 13 last year. Organizers hope to raise enough money this year to increase that number even further.

For those who want to get involved, the alumni association meets the first Tuesday of each month at Town Hall. New faces are always welcome.