Rockway Vineyards Recognizes Black History Month with Donation to Fergie Jenkins Foundation

Rockway Vineyards Recognizes Black History Month with Donation to Fergie Jenkins Foundation - Rockway Vineyards
Rockway Gives Back to the Fergie Jenkins Foundation with $6,000 Donation

All of us here at Rockway Vineyards are big believers in giving back to the community that we are fortunate enough to belong to.  We want to be good neighbours and allies in our home region of Niagara, Ontario and beyond. That’s why we started Rockway Gives Back!

As part of this initiative, we are excited to make financial contributions to not-for-profits and raise awareness about important causes. Among those, is the Fergie Jenkins Foundation.

Formed in 1999, the Fergie Jenkins Foundation has become one of the most wide-reaching registered charities in North America, supporting more than 500 charities in Canada and the United States. To mark Black History Month in February, Rockway Vineyards is donating the proceeds from the sale of our 2017 Fergie Jenkins Riesling and 2017 Fergie Jenkins Red wines to the Fergie Jenkins Foundation.

The first Fergie Jenkins wine was introduced in the summer of 2008 for sale to the public with our 2006 Cabernet Merlot and 2007 Vidal.  Since then, the line of Fergie Jenkins wines has won numerous awards, including our 2017 Red taking home Silver and 2017 Riesling winning Bronze in the 2019 Finger Lakes International Wine Competition.

 

Rockway Vineyards’ Controller, Jordon Foley, is presenting a cheque for $6,000 to John Oddi, Executive Director of the Fergie Jenkins Foundation.

Who is Fergie Jenkins?

Born in Chatham, Ontario, in 1942, Ferguson Arthur Jenkins was discovered for his talents in baseball at the young age of 15.  He was spotted by Philadelphia Phillies scout Gene Dziadura and recruited to the team.

Among his career highlights, Jenkins was the only pitcher in baseball history to strikeout more than 3,000 batters while accumulating less than 1,000 walks. He was also the first Canadian to be inducted into the National Baseball National Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. That honour was bestowed upon him in July of 1991.

Jenkins retired in 1983 from the Chicago Cubs, but his legacy continued.  He was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame at St. Mary’s, Ontario in 1987; inducted onto Canada’s Walk of Fame in 2001; inducted into Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame in 2012; and received the Order of Canada in 2007.

Jenkins is not only a former professional baseball pitcher and coach, but he is also a humanitarian.

Rockway Gives Back with Golf Tournament

Apart from our Fergie Jenkins line of wines, Rockway Vineyards is proud to have teamed up with the Fergie Jenkins Foundation to host the Annual Fergie Jenkins Celebrity Classic Golf Tournament. Jenkins himself has played our 18-hole championship course. The Rockway Golf Club has held 38 such tournaments, raising thousands of dollars for charities all over North America through the Foundation.

Rockway Gives Back Continues

We are delighted to be able to give back through the Fergie Jenkins Foundation, as well as our other notable charitable acts.

Our Pink Ribbon Rose will send hundreds of dollars to the Canadian Cancer Society every year for breast cancer research and support programs.

In addition, Rockway Vineyards regularly collects clothing, food, and toys for Community Cares, an organization based in St. Catharines, Ontario that provides for those in need.

Rockway Vineyards is also proud to support Pathstone Mental Health through various fundraising initiatives, such as donating a portion of all sales made during Bell Lets Talk Day in 2022. Pathstone Mental Health is a crucial support service in Niagara for children, youth, and families with mental health needs.

We look forward to your support as we continue the Rockway Gives Back initiative in the months and years ahead.