Background Information

The British Columbia Hospitality Foundation offers financial assistance to people who work in food, beverage and hospitality professions at a critical time of need.

The foundation, formed in fall 2006, was inspired by the desire to financially assist long-time wine agent Michael Willingham, who requires a costly surgery and then the rehabilitation time to follow.

The plan to assist Michael brought to the fore a need to establish a trust fund that could be used to assist anyone within the foodservice, beverage and hospitality industry who requires support due to illness or accident.

The founding planning committee, friends and colleagues of Michael Willingham, includes Jim Bagan, Renaissance Wine Merchants, Richard Carras, Authentic Wine and Spirits Merchants, Leeann Clemens, Coletta Consultants, Christine Coletta, Coletta Consultants, Jeannie Crane, Import Vintners and Spirits Association, George and Trudy Heiss, Gray Monk Estate Winery, Geoffrey Howes, Toseki Entertainment Ltd, Harry McWatters, Sumac Ridge Estate Winery, Tim Pawsey, freelance writer, hiredbelly.com, Terry Sewell, Terry Sewell Agency, Wendy Taylor, Planitvancouver.com, and Darryl Weinbren, Authentic Wines and Spirits Merchants.

The fund will act as a safety net for the food, beverage and hospitality industry members in British Columbia including brewers, food suppliers, hoteliers (foodservice departments), media (in the related trade), publicists (in the related trade ), retailers, vintners and wine sales representatives. The criterion for exact eligibility is in development, and will be managed by the board of trustees for the foundation. On the founding board of trustees are Richard Carras, Christine Coletta, Geoffrey Howes, and Harry McWatters, Sumac Ridge Estate Winery.

The planning committee is confident the trust can be funded via the proceeds of an annual fundraiser, and for the foundation’s first initiative, a golf tournament followed by a gala dinner with fundraising activities has been planned for the University of British Columbia Golf Course on Monday, April 30th, 2007. These activities will be achieved by pulling together various groups, including restaurants, licensees, hotels, and other related services in these industries to hold the event.