Women of the Vine & Spirits Foundation Named Semifinalist for SommCon 2026 Community Impact Award

# What happened Vine & Spirits (WOTVS) Foundation Ltd., the 501(c)(3) charitable arm of Women of the Vine & Spirits, was named a semifinalist for the Community Impact Award at SommCon 2026's Imprint Awards. The Community Impact Award recognizes an individual or nonprofit whose work connects the beverage industry with its broader community to create measurable change.

# Why it matters The Foundation focuses on scholarships and professional development for women in beer, wine, spirits, beverage alcohol and hospitality. Public recognition in an industry awards program can raise visibility, attract donors, and increase the Foundation's ability to fund education and leadership opportunities for women at a time when many companies are rethinking talent and development strategies.

# What supporters need to know

Vote link: https://sommconusa.com/imprint-awards/vote/

# Track record and scale Launched in 2017, the WOTVS Foundation has awarded over $1 million in scholarships to 407 recipients across the globe. The scholarships are intended to support continued education and professional development in beverage alcohol and hospitality. 2026 scholarship recipients are being selected and will be announced in the fall.

# Funding and donors Advocate, Benefactor, Affiliate, Supporter, and Friend categories. Named donors and supporters include:

• Advocate: Suntory Global Spirits

• Supporter and Friend-level mentions include Craft & Cluster, GrayRobinson, Remy Cointreau / Westland Distillery, and Tonya Rawe

The Foundation is soliciting donations to fund scholarships in 2026 and 2027 and directs potential donors to wotvsfoundation.org or foundation@womenofthevine.com for details on donor levels and benefits.

# Context in the industry The announcement notes the sector is experiencing market changes that make investment in people and professional development a priority for building a stronger future in beverage alcohol. The Foundation's mission is presented as one practical response: funding certified education, travel for learning, and other career-advancing opportunities for women.

# Immediate actions for readers

• Cast a public vote by August 31 to help the Foundation reach the finalist round: https://sommconusa.com/imprint-awards/vote/
• If you represent a potential donor, contact the Foundation for donor level information: foundation@womenofthevine.com or visit wotvsfoundation.org

# Bottom line Award highlights its scholarship work and donor-backed funding model. Voting and donations in the coming weeks will shape whether it advances to the finals and how many scholarships it can support in 2026 and 2027.