The Art & Wine fundraiser started last year when former WOU Board of Trustee Cristian Mendez Garcia partnered with WOU's Art & Design Department and WOU Foundation with the desire to donate art from himself and fellow WOU Alumni to raise funds for an art scholarship. 

Cristian graduated from Western Oregon University in 2008 with a Bachelors of Science in Art with an emphasis on graphic design and photography with an Art History Minor. He credits the employment of his mother, Rosa Mendez, at WOU for his ability afford his post-secondary education. She worked at Western until she tragically passed away in 2012 from cancer. Cristian's siblings Cinthya Rodriguez Mendez and Ignacio Mendez also graduated from WOU.

The goal of this fundraiser is to endow a scholarship in memory of Rosa Mendez that will continue to provide a minimum of $1,000 scholarship to a deserving art student each year.  With previous fundraising efforts such as the first Art & Wine fundraiser held at Illahe Vinyards and Winery and Giving Day this scholarship is less than $8,500 away from endowment. 

Your donation and support goes to help sustain scholarship for our students.  All proceeds from this event will be benefit art students at Western Oregon University.  We thank you for your continued support of the arts.