September 28, 2025

Sunday Evening

Billie Jean King Main Library, Downtown Long Beach

The 22nd Annual Grape Expectations Gala—our signature fundraising event benefiting the Long Beach Public Library—will take place on Sunday, September 28, 2025, at the Billie Jean King Main Library. Join us for an unforgettable evening featuring a gourmet dinner with perfectly paired fine wines, an exciting live auction, and a gathering of community leaders and library champions. Your support helps fund vital free library programs, including early literacy, STEAM workshops, job search resources, and more.

2025 Dinner Co-chairs

Mario Cordero
CEO
Port of Long Beach

Bob Foster
Former Mayor
City of Long Beach

Skip Keesal
Founder
Keesal, Young & Logan

2025 Honorees

M. Lissette Flores 
Director Emerita & Former President 
LBPLF Board of Directors 

Durnin Family Award 

Clark Construction 
Carlos Gonzalez, PE 
Division President 

Library Leadership Award 

Honorary Host Committee*


The Honorable Nanette Barragán, Congresswoman, U.S. House of Representatives, D44
The Honorable Mike Gipson, California State Assemblymember, 65th District
The Honorable Josh Lowenthal, California State Assemblymember, 69th District
The Honorable Janice Hahn, Supervisor, Los Angeles County, D4
The Honorable Rex Richardson, Mayor, City of Long Beach
The Honorable Roberto Uranga, Vice Mayor, City of Long Beach, D7
The Honorable Mary Zendejas, Councilwoman, City of Long Beach, D1
The Honorable Kristina Duggan, Councilwoman, City of Long Beach, D3
The Honorable Megan Kerr, Councilwoman, City of Long Beach, D5
The Honorable Laura Doud, City Auditor, City of Long Beach
The Honorable Dawn McIntosh, City Attorney, City of Long Beach
Dr. Mike Muñoz, President, Long Beach City College
Dr. Ennette Morton, Vice President, Board of Trustees, Long Beach City College, Area 4
Vivian Malauulu, Trustee, Long Beach City College, Area 2

*As of May 21, 2025

Thank You to Our Sponsors!**

If you or your business are interested in sponsorship opportunities, we would love to hear from you!
Contact our team at Events@LBPLfoundation.org.

Presenting Sponsor

Champagne Sponsor

Zinfandel Sponsors

Cabernet Sponsors

Tamara Achauer
Margaret and Charles Durnin
The Lloyd and Lauretta Dyer Family Foundation
Hon. Bob and Nancy Foster

Pinot Sponsors

AES
Aquarium of the Pacific
Charlyn Bender & Hakim Chambers
BPM LLC
Dignity Health – St. Mary Medical Center
Edison International
The Edmond Group LLC
Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, 4th District
Barbara Long and Friends
Long Beach Transit & Colleen Bentley
Mitsubishi Cement Corporation
Daniel and Pamela Munzer
Frank and Margie Newell
Oxbow Energy Solutions LLC
PEnterprise Consulting
Phillips 66 Los Angeles Refinery
James A. Reep Family Foundation
Sean Reilly and Jeff Toelsin
SA Recycling

**As of June 30, 2025

Gala Committee

Olga G. Chavez and Sharon L. Weissman, Co-chairs

Colleen Bentley 
Susana Gonzalez Edmond
Michele Grubbs
Pearl Hanks
Barbara Long
John Mathews II
Elizabeth Munzer
Sean Reilly
Jeff Toelsin
Elizabeth Warren

  

Relive the Magic of 2024

The Long Beach Public Library Foundation celebrated its 21st Annual Grape Expectations gala on October 6, 2024, at the Billie Jean King Main Library. With nearly 425 attendees, the event raised over $560,000 in support of the Foundation’s fundraising and advocacy efforts on behalf of the 12 Long Beach public libraries.