Record-Journal (Meriden, CT)

With Choate Rosemary Hall as title sponsor, SCOW hosted “Wines of Latin America” on March 31 at Villa Capri on North Colony Road to raise money and awareness of its mission and programs. Knight had said three days before the fundraiser that he would consider it a success if $10,000 was raised from the event.

Maria Campos-Harlow, executive director of SCOW since 2010, said more than $15,000 was raised at the wine-tasting fundraiser, and at least 250 people attended the evening’s festivities, which also featured food and music. She said she had expected the event to be a success from the start.

“To me, not a total surprise, but what was nice to see was that everybody was having a good time,” Campos- Harlow said.

Patricia Cymbala, president of the board of directors at SCOW, had a different reaction to the amount of the event’s proceeds.

“I felt that was shocking,” she said. Campos-Harlow credits the new leadership at SCOW for the “fresh approach” in its plans for development and growth, such as organizing “Wines of Latin America.”

“I think it’s the board (of directors) we have now. We also hired a consultant to tell us what to do,” she said, referring to Rosaida Rosario of Rosario & Associates LLC in Hartford.

“She was very helpful in setting our sights higher than previously,” Knight said. “One thing I learned is these things are hard, but all the hard work paid off.” Cymbala praised the agency’s executive director for SCOW’s recent progress.

“Maria being the director has made the difference,” Cymbala said. “When she came in, she came in like gangbusters.”

In addition to raising money, the event also boosted residents’ awareness of the town’s Latino population and the role of SCOW, which has been “working quietly in the community” since 1972, noted Campos-Harlow.

“More people have learned about the agency,” she said about SCOW, which provides services and programs, such as translators and medical assistance.

The fundraiser featured about two dozen wines courtesy of World Wide Wines in North Haven, said Knight, a former town councilor who now works for SCOW.

“I’m very happy about the money we raised, but I’m just as happy that we raised awareness of the Latino community and for the agency,” he said.

SCOW’s executive director also was impressed by the support from Wallingford’s town officials and local businesses. Campos-Harlow said the fundraiser had 31 sponsors, which was 11 more than they had expected.

The president of SCOW’s board noted the fundraiser is particularly significant right now for the agency because of the potential cuts in state funding by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy in his proposed budget.

“That money is keeping the lights on and the doors open,” said Cymbala, noting it costs about $140,000 a year to run SCOW.

“We definitely want the wine tasting to be annual. The dream is to have it every year,” said Campos-Harlow, adding SCOW next wants to organize a family-friendly fundraiser.

rwatson@record-journal.com (203) 317-2234

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