Copyright Santa Clarita Valley Signal
The WiSH Foundation hosted its annual Wine Under the Roof, where everyone was on cloud wine at the Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center at Bella Vida on Thursday evening. The evening had different food and wine booths for attendees to try, live music from Valencia High School’s jazz band and the Canyon High School Madrigals choir, and a five-course meal to enjoy. Amy Daniels, executive director of the foundation’s board of directors, said that the event is a great way to bring in some funds to help students due to the difficulties of what is happening with nonprofit organizations this year. “These are interesting times. And like a lot of small nonprofits, this has been a very difficult year, and we provide support for student programs that are not fully funded by tax dollars. So, we need all the help we can get because we’re being asked to do more with less right now,” Daniels said. Daniels was joined by Christy Alben, vice chair of the foundation’s board of directors. Alben said that one of her favorite parts of the event is how it all comes together. “Just seeing it come together, all of our hard work, and seeing all the people who come, the sponsors, who support us all year and support this event, and just everyone seems to have a good time,” Alben said. “The participants, we can’t do it without (them), and the conversations they have, the different tables, and it’s just a wonderful thing to see that and to see people connecting in ways that they don’t normally connect.” Alben added that seeing people show up despite how busy their day-to-day lives get is everything. Sean Herrera and Nadia Zaytoon came for the first time and helped sponsor the event with their business, Smash Daddy’s Burgers. “We’re getting to know so many different people that we are like, restaurants and businesses that we haven’t heard of before … just getting the voice out, more people, like, being able to help the students as well,” Zaytoon said. Alex Hafizi, chairman of the foundation board of directors, said it is the coolest thing to see the community come out to support the foundation. “I’m just walking around saying thank you for supporting WiSH (Foundation). Thank you for being here. and everyone’s so loving and so excited to be here. And it’s an awesome feeling for sure,” Hafizi said. Hafizi added that the more people come out to WiSH’s events and donate, the more they can help students and teachers in the William S. Hart Union High School District. “Anything that a teacher needs in their classroom, we’re there to help them. Any of the wellness centers that are in the schools, we’ve helped supply those, the money for those. So, any money that we make here benefits them no matter what,” Hafizi said.
