[KTHS] – For years, Santa Clarita Valley residents have been rolling up their sleeves and finding ways to support local schools, teachers and students.

Now they can roll up their pant legs and get their feet wet from stomping grapes for the same reason.

Santa Clarita Valley vintners and friends are inviting the community to Reyes Winery to support the WiSH Foundation with the fifth annual Harvest Festival on Saturday.

A WiSHful Evening at the Vineyard is donating proceeds to help the WiSH Foundation, “satisfy the WiSHlist of every teacher that has need in the classroom,” said Amy Sieger Daniels, executive director of the WiSH Foundation.

“There’s a lot of needs in  our schools that tax dollars don’t provide for, and that’s what the WiSH Foundation supports,” she said. To date, WiSH has disbursed nearly $90,000 in the two full school years it’s been supporting the district.

The event is being held at Reyes Winery in Agua Dulce, where participants will be able to stomp grapes and enjoy a variety of foods, beers and, of course, wines, according to event officials.

“It’s one price, and people can eat and drink all they like,” Sieger Daniels said. “What will be unique is that we’ll be able to watch the sunset from the vineyard.”

The event — which will begin at 3 p.m. Saturday for VIP attendees, and 4 p.m. for the general public — and the foundation, rely on their partnerships with Santa Clarita Valley businesses, Sieger Daniels said.

Wolf Creek is one of several SCV establishments, as well as Persia Restaurant and Kokolitas, among others, offering food and drink.

Tickets are $65 for presale and available for purchase [here].

“We are interested in helping organizations in our community who help our community,” said Robert Reyes, owner of Reyes Winery, “and so we always want to cooperate and participate.”

The event’s organizer, Beth Heiserman, said in addition to a Tuscan-themed dinner, which is included, there will also be a myriad of arts and crafts dealers who will have items for display and sale.

The artisans who are bringing their crafts — many of which are inspired by all aspects of the vintner’s process, from barrels that are turned into kayaks to wine bottles that become candles — are members of the Sierra Pelona Valley Vintners Association, Heiserman said.

The group is not only looking to support the community, but also to raise awareness about the availability of great wine in the Santa Clarita Valley’s backyard.

WiSH’s current funding focus is literacy, and every student has been positively impacted by the funding to those programs in all 16 Hart district schools, according to WiSH officials.

About the WiSH Foundation

Established in 2011, the William S. Hart Education Foundation is dedicated to quality education for all students. Through the generosity of our caring community and corporate partners, we fund programs and initiatives that go beyond what tax dollars provide and help elevate and prepare our students for life. WiSH is the official private-fundraising organization for the support of the William S. Hart Union High School District’s educational programs.