Twenty years of mentoring, two big events

Curious about the great wines some of our Sonoma Home Winemakers make and rarely pour outside their homes?

Check out “Sonoma Uncorked,” a fundraiser for the Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance, sponsored by Kiwanis of Sonoma Valley on Sunday, Oct. 30 at the Barn at Tyge William Cellars at Cornerstone. Lots of food is promised from local chefs along with a silent auction and lots of sipping.

Twenty years ago Niels Chew and Kathy Witkowicki started one of Sonoma’s most valued nonprofits, the Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance. Chew put up the money and hired Witkowicki part time to start an organization to help at-risk youth falling behind academically because of language or cultural barriers, or even serious family distractions.

The Mentoring Alliance helps these kids by pairing them with adults for one-on-one or group mentoring, helping with homework and giving them experiences out in the world they wouldn’t otherwise have.

According to the Mentoring Alliance, they currently provide mentors for 450 Sonoma Valley children, have professionally staffed mentoring centers at all of the Valley’s elementary schools, as well as help match mentors with students at private and charter schools. Mentoring relationships appear to help enrich lives of both the mentee and mentor, and give life direction and motivation for most of the mentees.

So, want to help and have some fun? Then Sonoma Uncorked is for you. Enjoy bites from Ramekins, Breakaway Café, Sage Catering, Plaza Bistro, El Molino Central, Olive & Vine, B&V Whiskey Bar & Grille, the Pairing Chocolate and Sonoma Market. $35. 2 to 5 p.m. 23570 Arnold Drive, Sonoma. Must be over 21. Tickets at sonomauncorked.eventbrite.com.

The Mentoring Alliance celebration and fundraising continues next weekend on Friday, Nov. 4 at Jacuzzi Family Vineyards where you can watch rolling monitors of historic photos of the organization, and enjoy several wood-fired pizza varieties, bruschetta, hummus with sourdough crostini, see a film about the organization, swing to music by Carlos Reyes, and give to a fund-a-need, followed by a Crisp Bake Shop dessert and Jacuzzi Prosecco in the piazza. $50. Tickets at celebratingmentoring.eventbrite.com. 938-1990.