This year's honoree is a long-time supporter of our tutoring program, Rod Santos. Rod is a self-proclaimed wine and beer geek. Since 2004, he has co-owned the Wine Thieves, an independent merchant with stores in Lafayette and Berkeley.
As the name might suggest, he and his business partner are frugal buyers, and they pride themselves on an inventory that's affordable, yet diverse. Rather than spend their hard-earned income on traditional advertising, "the Thieves" prefer to spread the word via community service.
Their charity of first choice is the public school system, thus their support for BVA, and specifically "A Toast to Tutoring." Rod's wife Lisa is a 4th grade teacher at Indian Valley Elementary, and tutors two students each year, an effort made possible thanks to funds raised entirely by this very organization. As he likes to say, tongue-in-cheek, when hosting numerous similar fundraisers throughout the school year: "Let's drink for the kids!"
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