As 2023 comes to an end and we start a new board year, the scholarship program reins will be handed from Leslie Hodowanec to Damian Christian.

Under Leslie’s leadership over the past few years, the program has continued a successful tradition of supporting eight California colleges and universities that have wine-related degree programs including enology, viticulture, wine marketing and culinary arts. This year, the program surpassed the three-quarters of a million-dollar mark, garnering $781,423 since 1996.

Starting with just a few institutions at its inception including University of California, Davis, and California State University, Fresno, the program now provides funding for eight institutions.

Program funds come from a variety of sources in addition to the organization’s general funds. These general funds include monies earned through membership dues, The Courtyard and the Wine Auction. Also, each year, at the OC Fair Commercial Competition, judges are offered the opportunity to donate back their stipend to the scholarship fund. The recipient institution for these funds rotates each year, giving each the opportunity to benefit from the funds over the years. In addition, the tips that the public gives to The Courtyard volunteers during the OC Fair are also slated for scholarships. In recent years, the Featured Winery Program at the OC Fair has been added to the list of funds that are directly applied to the scholarship program. Funds from the famous Wine Wall that Rochelle Randel runs during the Spring and Fall social events are also added directly to the fund.

As the year draws to a close, we want to remind everyone about another source of income for our Scholarship Fund and that is your generous donations. Don’t forget that donating to a nonprofit 501 (C)(3) like OCWS for the Scholarship Fund may be used as a tax deduction (please check with your tax specialist to confirm eligibility).

Year-end donations to our scholarship fund can be made online at ocws.org or by sending a check to the OCWS office at PO Box 11059, Costa Mesa, CA 92627 and can be made online at ocws.org/scholarship and you can print your own tax receipt. Checks also will be accepted at the Holiday Dinner Dance and Winemakers’ Holiday Potluck Party. Your donation can be made to the Scholarship Fund in general, or you may designate a specific institution to receive your donation. Please indicate “scholarship fund” on the memo line of your check and indicate specific institutions (if you wish to designate where your funds go). Thank you in advance for your generous donation and your support of the OCWS Scholarship Fund throughout the year. Whether you volunteer your time to these activities or provide donations, you are contributing to a worthwhile cause that furthers our educational mission.

— Damian Christian, Scholarship Chairs