Northeast Opportunities for Wellness, Inc. held its 4th Annual Taste for NOW on Friday, October 9th at The Mansion at Bald Hill Banquet Center, raising over $11,000 for the organization.

During what has become a signature event for the nonprofit, over 200 people sampled beer and wine selections paired with food from 16 area restaurants, caterers, and bakeries, including: 85 Main, Bella’s Bistro, The Courthouse Bar & Grille, The Crossings, Foods & Fudge, The Inn at Woodstock Hill, J.D. Cooper’s Restaurant, Jessica Tuesday’s, The Mansion at Bald Hill, Palmeiri’s Pizza, Renee’s Working Girl Catering, Sherwood’s Restaurant, Soleil & Suns Bakery, Sweet Pea’s, The Thompson Speedway, and Victoria Station Café.

The event featured live entertainment by acoustic duo, That Dollar’s Gone, as well as raffle items donated by local businesses. Friendly Spirits provided the beer and wine pairings and also donated 10{935c65a732af2bdfdcd0903b52ce42ca7e95cf00c7f9fc1a7b4e2b425875eda7} of sales made during the event to NOW. “We sincerely appreciate the support of the restaurants and volunteers who have worked hard to make this event happen,” stated Earl Rosebrooks, Fundraising Chair for NOW. “The event would not happen without the generosity of Friendly Spirits and their continued participation. We were also very excited to work with The Mansion at Bald Hill and their beautiful, new Banquet Center this year and plan to return next year.”

Founded in 2011 by an all-volunteer board, Northeast Opportunities for Wellness is a 501(c)(3) dedicated to making a positive impact in the lives of Quiet Corner children by insuring each child’s access to fitness, nutrition, and athletics. Serving the 10-town area of Northeast Connecticut, NOW partners with other local youth teams, leagues, and organizations to provide scholarships to children ages 3-14 who otherwise may not be able to afford such opportunities.

During the event, NOW President and founder, Allan Rawson, spoke about the mission of NOW and the growth the organization has experienced in the last four years. “We have a board of volunteers who have a passion for health and fitness and through their dedication, we have been able to help thousands of children access sports and wellness education.” Rawson continued, “As we move into our fifth year, we look forward to expanding our reach throughout the region.”

The funds raised at Friday’s event will assist the organization in their mission to introduce more area children to fitness, nutrition, and sports. The event is one of several fundraisers NOW hosts throughout the year. Other upcoming events include the NOW Spin Event in January, the NOW Touch-A-Truck in May, and the NOW 3.5 Mile Road Race in June.