Grape Expectations 2025 - Long Beach Public Library Foundation

September 28, 2025

Sunday Evening
5:30 – 9:00 PM
Billie Jean King Main Library
200 W. Broadway, Long Beach, CA 90802

The 22nd Annual Grape Expectations Gala—our signature fundraising event benefiting the Long Beach Public Library—took place on Sunday, September 28, 2025, at the Billie Jean King Main Library. It was 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 helped fund vital free library programs, including early literacy, STEAM workshops, job search resources, and more. Re-live this year's joyful and generous event via the photographs below.

Pictures from Grape Expectations 2025

Beth Berry, LBPLF Board Member Theresa Morrison, Durnin Family Award recipient M. Lissette Flores, and Donna De Manty

Long Beach Vice Mayor Roberto Uranga, Tonya Reyes Uranga, and Emiliano Uranga

Members of the 2025 Grape Expectations Gala Committee (left to right): Liz Munzer, Pearl Hanks, John Mathews II, Veronica Garcia Dávalos, Barbara Long, Olga G. Chavez, Sharon L. Weissman, Colleen Bentley, Elizabeth Warren, and Susana Gonzalez Edmond

Yumiko Kataoka Hara, Dianne McGinnis, LBPLF Board Member John McGinnis, and Bette Ann Baker

LBPLF Board Member Charlyn Bender, Hakim Chambers, and Friends

Jordan and Jeanette Christian, Bruce and Diane Heyman, Amanda Enriquez and Friends

James Trotter Jr., Candace Jones, Dr. Ennette Morton, and Hakim Chambers

Jonas Corona, Renzo Maggi, and the Bridge Family: Cooper, Lauren, Mitch, Kim, Tatum Barnes and Jorda

LBPL Manager of Branch Services Cynthia Bautista and Sonia Bautista

Members of the LBPL management team (left to right): Cynthia Bautista, Cathy De Leon, and Michal Loving with City of Commerce Director of Library Services Sonia Bautista

LBPLF Executive Director and CEO Veronica Garcia Dávalos with LBPL staff members (left to right) Gabe Gaete, Jacqui Viale, Cathy De Leon, and Cynthia Bautista

The Durnin family (left to right): Colby, Brenda, Charles, and Margaret

Working Brass Citizens guiding guests from cocktail hour to dinner

The Honorable Mary Zendejas, Long Beach City Council District 1

Cathy De Leon, Long Beach's Director of Library, Arts and Culture

LBPLF Board President-elect John Mathews II with wife Rocío

Nancy Foster with The Honorable Bob Foster, 2025 Grape Expectations Gala Dinner Co-chair and former Long Beach Mayor

LBPLF staff members Thelma Medina and Kristen Hernandez

Harbor Commissioner Bonnie Lowenthal and Evan Braude

May Pinkman, Marci and Don Smith and Julie Willbanks

Martha and Francisco Flores, Parents of Durnin Family Award recipient M. Lissette Flores

LBPLF Board Member Liz Munzer and Rey Spalding

LBCC Trustee Dr. Ennette Morton and James Trotter Jr.

Carmela Arstill, Noemi Guevara, and Kyra Folk-Farber

Richard Garcia,Agatha Kotani, Ricki Burgener and Steve Caloca

(left to right) SEED program administrators Gabe Gaete and Jacqui Viale with LBPLF Director Emerita Susan Redfield

Erlend Myhre, Vice President of Refining at Marathon Petroleum's Los Angeles refinery

2025 Grape Expectations Gala Committee Co-chairs and LBPLF Board Members Sharon L. Weissman and Olga G. Chavez

LBPLF Board President Sean Reilly with Executive Director Veronica Garcia Dávalos

Randy Kemner, Proprietor of The Wine Country

2025 Grape Expectations Gala Dinner Co-chair Mario Cordero, CEO of the Port of Long Beach

Sophie Fatu captivates attendees with a vocal performance

Auctioneer Suzanne Martin Krainock of Inspired Benefit Auctions

Click Here to View the Full Photo Gallery

Click Here to View the Digital Event Program

2025 Dinner Co-chairs

Mario Cordero
Chief Executive Officer
Port of Long Beach

Bob Foster
Former Mayor
City of Long Beach

In Loving Memory of
Skip Keesal
Founder
Keesal, Young & Logan

2025 Honorees

M. Lissette Flores
Director Emerita & Former President
Board of Directors
Long Beach Public Library Foundation

Durnin Family Award

Clark Construction
Carlos Gonzalez, PE
Division President

Library Leadership Award

Honorary Host Committee*

The Honorable Nanette Barragán, Member of Congress, California District 44
The Honorable Mike Gipson, California State Assembly, District 65
The Honorable Josh Lowenthal, California State Assembly, District 69
The Honorable Janice Hahn, Supervisor, Los Angeles County, District 4
The Honorable Rex Richardson, Mayor, City of Long Beach
The Honorable Roberto Uranga, Vice Mayor, City of Long Beach, District 7
The Honorable Mary Zendejas, Long Beach City Councilmember, District 1
The Honorable Kristina Duggan, Long Beach City Councilmember, District 3
The Honorable Megan Kerr, Long Beach City Councilmember, District 5
The Honorable Dawn McIntosh, City Attorney, City of Long Beach
The Honorable Doug Haubert, City Prosecutor, City of Long Beach
The Honorable Laura Doud, City Auditor, City of Long Beach
The Honorable Ennette Morton, Vice President, Board of Trustees, Long Beach City College, Area 4
The Honorable Vivian Malauulu, Trustee, Long Beach City College, Area 2
The Honorable Frank Colonna, President, Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners
The Honorable Bonnie Lowenthal, Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners
Sharon L. Weissman, Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners
Dr. Mike Muñoz, President, Long Beach City College

*As of September 26, 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
The Honorable Bob Foster
and Mrs. Nancy Foster

Underwriting Sponsors

Matson (Music Underwriter)

The Honorable Mary Zendejas, Long Beach City Councilmember, District 1 (Parking Underwriter)

*As of September 26, 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
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.

Program, Honorees & Sponsors

Grape Expectations 2024 Photos