Sebastianis are Sonoma 'sweethearts' to be celebrated at Saturday's gala

Allison and August Sebastiani, chosen as the Sweethearts of this year's Boys & Girls Club Sweetheart Gala, seem to live to give. They will be recognized at the gala this Saturday, Feb. 13, at the club's Maxwell Park location.

August's heartfelt caring comes with genetic confidence, having grown up aware of the generosity that surrounds his family name. And Allison's quiet need to help others rises from a wellspring of deeply personal empathy.

The couple has his-and-hers foundations, with August heading up the August Sebastiani Foundation and Allison at the roots of Sonomans Offering Support. August's giving vehicle, shared with his siblings, is not named for himself, of course, but for his grandfather and namesake, who passed away only months before he was born.

'We have sizeable shoes to fill,' August said, knowing that there's a brass likeness of his grandfather hanging on the wall at Sonoma Valley Hospital that recognizes his huge contributions, and even stained-glass windows at St. Francis Solano Catholic Church are graced with the Sebastiani name. 'I mean that has a compliment, but it also creates a drive. I want to honor and continue the legacy in every way.'

The foundation's mission is 'benefitting individuals and organizations who promote education, childhood development and Catholic values,' and it has supported the Boys & Girls Club and the Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance, as well as Catholic schools and Sonoma Valley Little League, among others.

Meanwhile, several years ago, Allison joined with a group of woman friends to form a nonprofit dedicated to reaching out to individual families in need. 'It was created by moms who wanted to give back in a way that was doable while having small children at home and a career,' Allison said. 'We help people facing unexpected emergencies, like a parent losing a job, or kids who get sick.'

Recently SOS stepped up to help the Yankee family when their son, Jack, underwent a bone marrow transplant. 'Everyone was saying 'What can we do?' and that is the kind of need we are set up to meet,' she said. 'We have a nonprofit in place, so we can collect and distribute contributions, or quickly hold a pop-up fundraiser.' SOS also organizes the Adopt a Family program at Christmas time, which provides presents to families in need.

The Sebastianis have been married 10 years and have four children Gabriella, 10, Sofia, 8, Gus, 4, and Paul, 2. They live near the Sebastiani Winery vineyards on the eastside, but as is well known, there are no more Sebastianis at Sebastiani. The winery, which was founded by August's great-grandfather Samuele in 1904, was sold in 2008.

August is the president of 3 Badge Beverage Corporation, with brands including Hey Mambo and Pennywise wines, Uncle Val's Gin, and Bib and Tucker Bourbon. The company purchased the old Sonoma firehouse on Patten Street at Broadway, a building where August's grandfather once volunteered and earned three badges – active, retired and honorary – and that became the inspiration for the new name of the company formerly known as The Other Guys. August's roots in Sonoma run deep, and even include his office.

Not everyone knows that Allison is also a Sonoma native. She attended El Verano Elementary and spent many after-school hours at the Boys & Girls Club. She transferred to St. Francis Solano in sixth grade, where August had been since kindergarten and was already in eighth grade. They don't remember each other from those days, and Allison moved on, attending high school in Novato and San Francisco State.

August went to Justin-Siena in Napa, and then spent his only four years outside Sonoma at Santa Clara University. He'd been back in town a couple of years, when one day he caught sight of Allison, who was coaching his little sister, Mia's, basketball team at Justin-Siena. He asked a friend about her, who arranged for them to meet, 'And we've been together ever since,' he said with a smile, looking at his wife like it was yesterday and he was meeting this beautiful blond girl for the very first time.

Almost 10 years ago, when August was only 26 years old, he ran for Sonoma City Council, serving on the government board for four years as a conservative voice on a liberal team. He said it was when he ran for office that he realized that because of his name, 'I meet people and they have an opinion of me before they even shake my hand.' One would have to be very new in town not to know the name that shines in neon lights on the movie theater that is the focal point of the Plaza, built by Samuele as a community service in 1933, though long since gone from the family holdings.

'I never looked at it has a career position,' he said of his time at City Hall. 'I did it to give back to the community.' Beginning a new family at the time, he didn't run for re-election, but he's never stopped being involved. He next served on the board of the Boys & Girls Club, when it was looking for younger board members. 'You don't have to be retired to participate,' August laughed. 'It doesn't take 40 hours a week to give back.' Currently he is the chairman of the board of The Presentation School, where their older children attend, and where the cornerstone of the teaching is 'To love, to learn, to lead.'

Allison agrees, saying she always makes an effort to find time, 'an hour here and an hour there' to do the best she can to make a difference. 'It is so important for us to let our kids see us giving back. Charity begins at home.'

August said that Sonoma means 'everything' to him, and Allison adds, 'It is so much a part of who we both are. We are so fortunate to be raising our children here.' For them it is also all about family, and they gather every Sunday evening at August's parents Don and Nancy's mansion, perched on a hill that looks out over what were once the Sebastiani vineyards (and some newly-planted vines of their own) for a traditional family dinner. His brother, Donny, his wife, Katie, and their three children are there, too, and his sister, Mia, and her husband, Kendrick Coakley, who have a 1-year-old and a baby on the way. They are close-knit and the little cousins are the best of friends.

August and Allison were taken by surprise when they were asked to be the Sweethearts. 'I was humbled and honored,' Allison said, 'And a little bit overwhelmed.'

August can't help but say that he's always thought of it as a lifetime achievement award. It was an honor given to his grandmother Sylvia in 2003, only months before she died.

Only in their mid-30s, August and Allison have only begun to make a difference in the Valley they so love. They started early, and they've accomplished so much. No doubt August and Sylvia would be very, very proud.