Annual Cohn Event Nets $400K

Doobie Brothers manager, vintner and philanthropist Bruce Cohn has distributed more than $400,000 raised during his annual golf tournament and benefit concert at B.R. Cohn Winery near Glen Ellen, Calif., in September.

The total raised was one of the highest in the history of the 25-year-old charity effort.

“What an incredible silver anniversary,” Cohn told the Sonoma Valley Sun. “We are very pleased with the fundraising totals which could not have been possible without the extraordinary support from all the artists who performed, the hard-working staff, the many volunteers as well as our charity and media partners.”

Events included a Sept. 23 sit-down dinner at the winery, featuring celebrity chef Guy Fieri and support by Marin, Calif.’s Brick and Bottle Catering, and a Sept. 26 golf tournament at Sonoma Golf Club.

In between were two days of concerts in the winery’s amphitheatre, including performances by the Doobie Brothers and guests Sammy Hagar and Joe Satriani. Also performing were Lynyrd Skynyrd, Leon Russell, Little Feat, Jim Messina and Greg Kihn.

Distributions went to Redwood Empire Food Bank, Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance, Sonoma Valley Education Foundation, San Francisco’s Glide Memorial Church, Santa Rosa Memorial Trauma Center, Sonoma Development Center and dozens of other local and national charities.