How many times have you ever looked at a conference registration fee, airfare and hotel costs and went, “Damn. I can’t afford that!” and turned down the opportunity to go?
How many times have you ever attended a conference and went, “Damn! I wish there was a way for more people to enjoy and experience this conference!”
Well, the Wine Bloggers Conference has a remedy for both of those questions. While applications for the 2015 Wine Bloggers Conference Scholarship have closed, there’s still a need for donations!
Right now, we have a challenge from Amy Gross, CEO of Wine 4 Me. If $500 is raised via donations from generous folks like yourself, she will donate $500 to the scholarship fund! Here’s the details on the #MakeThemPay Donation Challenge. So please, find even an extra $5 and donate! Every little bit helps in sending a wine blogger to what we affectionately call Blogger Camp.
UPDATE: As of 7/3, we EXCEEDED the #makethempay donation challenge, but we still need your help! CLICKY CLICK HERE!
About the WBC Scholarship
Established in 2009, the Wine Bloggers Conference Scholarship provides wine bloggers an opportunity to attend the Conference. Conference participants get to enjoy a weekend in a beautiful place, make fantastic connections with bloggers and industry insiders, all while enhancing their personal brand awareness levels.
Unfortunately, there are people who can’t afford to the costs associated with the conference. These individuals are called citizen bloggers. Recipients of the scholarship are not affiliated with a winery or other company within the wine industry, thus their title as a citizen blogger. Attention is given to citizen bloggers who’ve never attended the conference, who post wine-related content regularly, are established and who have an interest in furthering their knowledge of wine and wine regions through some form of a collegiate level program relating to wine (i.e. graduate or undergraduate degrees with an emphasis on the wine industry, such as wine/hospitality business management, viticulture or enology).
During the application process, prospective recipients are asked to describe their blog, their financial need pertaining to the conference and why they feel they are deserving of sponsorship. A committee of established wine bloggers then selects the recipients based on the criteria listed.
Anyone can be an individual donor for any amount they wish and they will be rewarded with two ribbons to place on their conference badge (if they attend the conference, that is). Thanks to a partnership through Enobytes.com, the Scholarship fund is able to be recognized as a US-based 501(c) non-profit, your donation is tax free (upon consultation with your tax professional, of course).
Corporate sponsors are always welcome as well. For more information on being a corporate sponsor and the benefits associated with corporate sponsorship, please reach out to Scholarship Co-Founder Thea Dwelle at info@wbcscholarship.com.
Congratulations to the following scholarship recipients (as of 7/23/2015):
Rodney Strong Vineyards Wine Blogger Scholarship: Matt McGinnis of What Are You Drinking.
WBC Scholarship Recipient: Christine Havens of Christine Havens
WBC Scholarship Recipient: My’Khael Wilson of Purveyor of Happiness
WBC Scholarship Recipient: Justin Koury of The Grapevine Consulting
WBC Scholarship Recipient: Melissa Cook of Melissa Kaylene is Willamette Valley Wonder Woman
Ethnifacts Diversity in Wine Writing Scholarship Recipient: Regine Rousseau of Shall We Wine
Other recipients, TBA. This post will be updated and rebroadcast via social media with updates.
Disclaimer: I am a member of the Wine Bloggers Conference Scholarship Fund committee.
