Northwest Arkansas Wine Opener raises money to fight cystic fibrosis

Mackenzie Jobe looks like a normal, healthy Bentonville high school senior – big brown eyes, long brown hair, and a smile that lights up a room. But Mackenzie has something other seniors don’t – she lives with cystic fibrosis. 

On Saturday night (Feb. 20), Mackenzie stood on the stage at the John Q Hammons Convention Center in Rogers and thanked the crowd of more than 1,000 people at the 8th annual NWA Wine Opener of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. They came to support her and donate money to help fund research and provide care for those living with cystic fibrosis.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a life-threatening genetic disease that primarily affects the lungs and digestive system. In people with CF, a defective gene and its protein product cause the body to produce unusually thick, sticky mucus that clogs the lungs and affects the pancreas, according to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation website (www.cff.org). CF affects about 30,00 children and adults in the United States.

Mackenzie said living with CF is hard but that the Wine Opener event was special for her.

“I have to do treatments every day, take pills every time I eat. But, it’s been my normal every day since I was a baby. Tonight I’m excited to get to share my story and spread awareness of CF.”

In a video shown during the evening she said, “I don’t let CF stop me from doing normal things and just living my life.”

In addition to hearing from Mackenzie, guests at the Wine Opener sampled more than 100 wines provided by 14 distributors such as St Michelle Wine Estates, J Lohr Vineyards and Wines, Treasury Wine Estates and E&J Gallo. Guests also sampled tasting dishes from 17 different restaurants and caterers, including Houlihan’s, Taziki’s, P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, Bizzy B’s Bakery and Flint Steak House of Cherokee Casino.

Sach Oliver, of Bailey and Oliver Law Firm, fired up the crowd for the live auction which consisted of a private dinner for 10, catered by 21 C Hotel’s The Hive; a miniature golden doodle puppy; a trip for four to Portland Oregon to hear 40 live bands; a Napa Valley winery experience; an extreme Razorback fan package and a Naples, Fla. escape. The golden doodle puppy sold for $3,000.

During the evening guests also placed bids on more than 250 silent auction items that included Kansas City Royal’s George Brett autographed shirt and baseball cap, a child’s playhouse, women’s shoes, gift baskets and a poster from the movie “Anchorman” which was signed by cast members.

Diane Byram, the development director for the foundation’s Northwest Arkansas chapter, said the foundation hopes to net $250,000 from the event this year, which would be $20,000 more than was raised last year. One addition to this year’s event, Byram said, was a wine and spirits pull. Guests could “buy a chance (for $20) for a bottle of wine or spirits which included some good wines up to $150 and champagne, like Big Magnum,” she said. Then they pulled a cork out of a bucket and the number on the cork would be the number of the bottle they won.

Louis Greth, senior director of movies for Walmart and Esther Gifford, director of adult beverages for Walmart were co-chairs for the event. Presenting sponsors were Paramount Pictures, Boulder Brands and Warner Brothers Home Entertainment Group.

According to their website, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation motto is, “Adding Tomorrows.” They have made big strides in fighting the disease, according to a recent press release.  When the Foundation was established in 1955, children were not expected to live past elementary school age. Today, life expectancy for CF patients is 30 to 40 years of age.