DANBURY, CONN. — Fine wines from around the world, a generous buffet of foods prepared by local chefs, and a silent auction will highlight Western Connecticut State University’s 11th Annual Holiday Wine Tasting on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009.

The wine tasting benefit for the Caraluzzi Scholarship Endowment will be from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom of the Westside Campus Center on the university’s Westside campus, 43 Lake Ave. Extension in Danbury.

Over the past decade, the popular benefit has raised some $125,000 for the Caraluzzi Endowment, which has awarded scholarships to WestConn freshmen from the Greater Danbury area and continuing students in the university’s Ancell School of Business. Proceeds from the annual event and generous donations from the family of Anthony and Julia Caraluzzi have enabled the university to give scholarships to 66 students since 2001.

“The Caraluzzi family has provided an exemplary model for collaboration between the university and the Greater Danbury community in support of educational excellence,” Vice President for Institutional Advancement Dr. Koryoe Anim-Wright said. “The wine tasting offers an example of how, together, we all can make a difference in the lives of students at WCSU.”

Guest will pay $50 for sampling a diverse selection of domestic and international wines, complemented by hors d’oeuvres, entrees and desserts provided by area restaurants and caterers. Live music will be performed by students from the WestConn School of Visual and Performing Arts. Guests also will be able to bid on donated goods and services featured in a silent auction during the tasting.

Sponsors of the event include Caraluzzi’s Markets of Bethel, Georgetown and Newtown, and Caraluzzi’s Nutmeg Discount Liquors of Bethel. Distributors of Nutmeg Liquors will provide the wines for the tasting. Catered foods for the event will be supplied by Caraluzzi’s Markets, Mr. Sushi in Bethel, and La Zingara restaurant in Bethel.

The scholarship endowment was established in honor of Anthony Caraluzzi, founder of Caraluzzi’s Markets, by his son, Anthony Caraluzzi Jr., as a means to give back to the Greater Danbury community and promote business education at WCSU. Caraluzzi Jr. and his wife Roberta were honored at the 2008 University Ball for their continuing contributions to the university, including their role in organizing the Holiday Wine Tasting.

Scholarships are awarded annually to incoming WCSU freshmen who are graduates of Bethel High School or Immaculate High School in Danbury, and to WestConn juniors and seniors enrolled in the Ancell School of Business.

Reservations for the event are limited. To reserve tickets or to donate an item or service for the silent auction, call the Office for Institutional Advancement at (203) 837-8832.

 

Western Connecticut State University offers outstanding faculty in a range of quality academic programs. Our diverse university community provides students an enriching and supportive environment that takes advantage of the unique cultural offerings of Western Connecticut and New York. Our vision: To be an affordable public university with the characteristics
of New England’s best small private universities.