Winemakers Dinner and Sip ‘n’ Savour by Rachels Children Beneift Toronto

On May 29th, Rachels Children Benefit Toronto held a Winemakers Dinner and Sip ‘n’ Savour fundraising event at Lolita’s Lust. The purpose is to raise money for Rachels Benefit in order to support the family with three children who has recently lost their loving mother.

Rachel’s Story…

Rachel Winkler, a mother of three, was killed on February 27th, 2012, under domestic violence. Over the past few months, Rachel’s  father Don Hatfield has been fighting for custody of the 3 children who had to witness their mother’s tragic death: Baby boy Alex, 10 months old; Ariel, age of 2; and Eva, 4.

A group of  Rachel’s friends decided to help by establishing Rachel Children Benefit Toronto, to honor Rachel, and to support her family and other victims under the same circumstances.

“We want to provide immediate help for those being abused. To help them escape.” says Ruthie Cummings, an old acquaintance of Rachel who put everything together for this event. With the support of Rachel’s Children Benefit Toronto, Don has successfully won custody, and Rachel’s fund aims to help more by providing immediate short term assistance and expenses for all victims of domestic abuse out there. This fund is the first of its kind in Canada and will be available nationally to those in emergency situations. The Fund was created as Rachel’s legacy. “Her life may have been cut short but it is our intention to have her memory live on helping people in similar situations such as hers”. Through T-Shirt sales (available at www.rachelschildrentoronto.com), this fund will be long term and offer anyone an opportunity to help.

See more about Rachel’s Fund on the ‘Oprah Winfrey Network–Everyday People‘ this September 2012.

The Event…
The “Sip ‘n’ Savour” event featured delicious finger food, silent auction, and tasting for over 75 Domestic and International wines, spirits and beer. We favour the 2010 Riesling from Reif Estaste Winery, Niagara, with a guava aroma. And the full bodied Imperial Russian Stout from Wellington Brewery with a bitter chocolate taste. The silent auction items included wine, fur capes, and a selection of Don Hatfield‘s paintings. We took a picture of one of them that moved us the most. A painting of her daughter Rachel:

For more information on Rachels Children Benefit Toronto please visit: http://www.rachelschildrentoronto.com/