Vineman Charity Grants

Vineman, Inc. is a California Public-Benefit Non-Profit Corp. whose charitible purpose is to promote the Vineman Triathlons and other events/entities which encourage healthy living and tourism in California. Vineman is in the fortunate position to be able to make financial grants to charities which support the Vineman in its mission to encourage health, fitness and well-being.  Since 1991 the Vineman has been committed to supporting cancer organizations in our community.  Barb’s Race, an all women’s half-iron distance triathlon, was established in 2001 as the major source of funding for the grants which Vineman makes to cancer-related groups.  Money is raised through entry fees for Barb's Race, contributions made by athletes participating in our other Vineman events and through athlete fundraising. Friends, families and supporters can also make donations directly to the Vineman specifically for the purpose of supporting these groups.

Barb's Race was started in honor of Barbara Recchia, a long-time Vineman volunteer and race committee member who has twice been faced with the daunting task of fighting cancer. She has taken this challenge head-on and is currently living a full and healthy life. If you need a little inspiration to prepare for finishing Barb's Race, all you have to do is look Barb's way. If Barb can beat cancer, then what's the big deal about finishing a half-iron distance race?! Click here to read Barb's story.

Since the first Barb's Race in 2001 Vineman, through Vineman Charity Grants has raised over $500,000. Most of the money raised is a result of entry fees for Barb's Race – 50% is donated to this fund - as well as athlete fundraising. Additional funding comes from donations from friends and family members of this event as well as from all of the other Vineman events.

Over the last 11 years, the grants which Vineman has made have contributed to cancer research, to fight breast cancer and for cancer support services. Some of the organizations we have donated to are: the Sutter Northbay Women's Health Center's Integrative Health & Healing Services (click here for an article about the program), the Cancer Library and Health Resource Center here in Sonoma County, as well as to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Commonweal and to UCSF for research into women's cancers. Click here for more information on past Vineman Charity Grant recipients.

You can help us do more this year. We invite and encourage all Vineman and Barb’s Race participants to raise funds for the Vineman Charity Grants or to make a donation.

If you would like to help, here's what you do:

In an attempt to streamline our fundraising process, we will no longer accept checks and cash but request that all donations be made through the Vineman Charity Grants online fundraising page.

• To become a fundraiser, you will need to create your personal fundraising page.
• From your page, you can email everyone you know to make an online donation.
• If you receive cash from donors, please retain the money and use your personal credit card to make the donation on your page.
• If donors pay by check, they should make the check payable to you and then you can make the donation with your personal credit card on your own page.
• Click here to create your fundraising page; once on the active.com page, click on "Create Your Campaign" at the bottom of the page.

If you have questions about this process, please contact the Vineman office at (707) 528-1630 or email barb@vineman.com.

Thank you for supporting our efforts to give back to our community through our Vineman Charity Grants.

Vineman, Inc. is a 501(c)3 Non-Profit Corporation.

Dr. Amy Shaw (left) of the Breast Care Center accepts donation from the TRI Try siSTARS Relay Team (3 center) and Barb (right).