Wharton Private Equity Partners, in conjunction with the Wharton Club of Northern California, the Chicago Private Equity Network & the Harvard Alumni PE/VC Roundtable, presents an evening with global philanthropists and cult vintners, Dick and Ann Grace, Grace Family Vineyards

In these challenging economic times, come to an event with a refreshing change of pace – an evening with Dick and Ann Grace. The evening is a rare opportunity to hear them talk about their global philanthropical pursuits. Their cult cabernet sells for thousands at auctions and benefits the Grace Family Foundation with a mission of “wine as a catalyst towards healing the planet”. They have touched thousands of disenfranchised lives around the globe by building hospitals, orphanages, and funding education for those in extreme need. They have also teamed up with the His Holiness The Dali Llama to host events that recognize “Unsung Heroes Among Us”. The evening promises to be one filled with hope and true inspiration.

Where: Wharton West, Folger Building
101 Howard Street, Suite 500, San Francisco, CA
When: Thursday, November 20th, 2008. 6:00 – 8:00 PM

Fees: $25 per person for Wharton Club of Northern California members and their accompanied guests. Non-member alumni and other guests: $50.00. Registration closes at 1:00pm Thursday, November 20th. Cancellations after 5:00pm, Wednesday, November 19th, 2008 at the discretion of the WCNC.
Register online

Biography
Dick Grace's personal values and commitments have shaped not only his own life, but also the lives of countless other people worldwide.

First as a United States Marine Corps Captain, and then as a senior Vice President for Soloman Smith Barney, Dick spent over thirty-five years cultivating his professional and financial success. According to Dick however, the real story of his true success began when he turned his focus outward and embarked on a path of compassionate action.

In the late 1970's, Dick and his wife Ann started a small winery in the Napa Valley of California. Although the family began their venture with virtually no experience in wine making, The Insider's Wine Line says, "the Cabernet Sauvignons that have evolved from the original one-acre vineyard on the property have now become legend, bringing at charity auctions more money than any other wine made in America."

And it is charity that is at the heart of Dick's personal transformation and the mission of the Grace Family Vineyards. Known as much for its mission statement, "Wine as a catalyst towards healing our planet” as for its prized wine, Grace Family Vineyards raises over a million dollars annually for charitable causes. Among those who have benefited from the profits of the vineyard are organizations caring for children with cancer, pediatric AIDS, abused children, and organizations serving the children of Nepal, Tibet, India, Mexico and of course, America.

Dick is emphatic about his belief that donating money is only a small part of his charitable equation. As he explains, "the other part includes personal involvement and personal commitment to raising others' awareness of the need to act compassionately."

Therefore, Dick volunteers at Mother Theresa's hospitals in Kathmandu, at the homes for disabled persons, at children's camps, and for a variety of other organizations alleviating the suffering of children and adults who are physically, emotionally, or financially disenfranchised. He also supports a number of Buddhist causes including the Tibetan refugees in Katmandu, Nepal and Dharamsala, India, the monks at Shechen Monastery, and the Free Tibet movement. In doing so, Dick believes he exposes himself and the many people who join him on his path to the purest of gurus; people who deal with life threatening or life altering disease or injury.

Dick also commits a significant portion of his time and resources to raising awareness about the need to act compassionately. He uses every tour of his winery, every speaking engagement, and every possible personal encounter to share his stories and remind people that active participation in the lives of people in need can be more spiritually rewarding than inward-focused religious or meditative practice. Although his own spiritual path is centered in Buddhism, Dick focuses his practice on the universal importance of caring and compassionate action that unites all religions and spiritual teachings. He incents all whose life he touches to participate in the opportunity, if not the obligation, of decreasing the suffering of sentient beings around the world.