One can never go wrong going Grape

story and photos by Linda Kaufenberg

A small piece of Morocco traveled to the Holiday Inn City Center in downtown Fort Smith courtesy of Grape Escapes, hosted by Bost Inc. and Bost Foundation. About 300 people attended the event that enables Bost to continue providing services to 700 individuals with mental, physical and developmental disabilities.

“Through Bost’s efforts, these special individuals are enabled to achieve their goals of living, working and thriving in their communities,” said Kent Jones, Bost executive director.

The night featured wine tasting, food sampling and bidding on live auction items.
Participating wine distributors served 600 wines from around the world while area restaurants and caterers shared their delicacies.

Some of the live auction items included:
• One Week for 10 in a private home in Santa Fe, N.M. (donated by Peggy Jones)
• A trip for 2 to rested Butte, Colo., for 5 nights in the winter or 7 nights in the summer (donated by Dr. and Mrs. Carl Friddle)
• One week for 4 at Barefoot Beach Resort in Indian Shores, Fla. (donated by Bill Priakos)
• A weekend for 2 or 4 in a privately owned condo at the Hilton on Branson Landing. (donated by Karen LeRosen)
• A whimsical double oval pendant made with 18K white gold. (donated by John Mayes Jewelers)

The evening ended with the crowd dancing to the music of Mr. Cabbage Head and the Screaming Radishes.
 

Beth and Bobby Stephens are greeted and presented plates and wine glasses by Kelly Turner and Sherry McKinney as they stand in front of the entry of Grape Escapes – Moroccan Style.

 

 

 

 

 

Sam T. and Jennifer Sicard

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eric and Meighan Pendergrass sample breads and desserts from Panera Bread’s Lindsey Lough-Miller and Claudine Stark.

 

 

 

Allyn Donaubauer, President of the Board of Trustees for Bost Foundation, Inc., was the auctioneer of ten live auction items.

 

 

 

Kitty Calvert, steering committee chair; Billy Ward, Bost Board Member and Shannon Fawcett, event coordinator

 

 

 

Chester Koprovic and Shannon Fawcett, event coordinator

 

 

 

 

Event co-chairs Lori and David Cravens and Brenda and Anthony Altman

 

 

 

 

Carole Hardgrave, Linda Dickinson and Jim and Myra Dennis

 

 

 

 

 

 

Becky, Katie and John Womack

 

 

 

 

Chuck and Debbie Goux and Marsha and Mike Crowder

 

 

 

 

 

Danika Ledford, David Swaters, Heather Goff and Shanece Lenzy

 

 

 

 

Chip and Elizabeth Paris and Nicole and John Jamison

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tara Berg watches as Katie Raines chooses some fruit from the Applebee’s’ booth.