One Year Later: Wine Auction Raises Two Million For Flaum

Every year, Wegman’s Food Markets holds its Toast to Your Health Wine Auction to benefit a clinical division of the University of Rochester Medical Center. Wine Spectator lists the event as one of the nation’s premier wine-related fundraisers.

The event supported the Flaum Eye Institute’s missions to preserve vision and pioneer sight-restoring research. More than 200 were on hand to celebrate. The festivities featured music, dining, a silent auction, and a spirited live auction.

Hosted by Danny Wegman and Paula Kerr-Jarrett Wegman, and chaired by the Flaum Family, silent and live auction lots included rare wines, travel experiences, and distilled spirits. Parked in front of the event space was the Eye Institute’s Vision Van, part of the MobilEyes population health program.

Two special videos were shown during the evening. The first highlighted the history, accomplishments, and future goals of FEI. It included a moving tribute to former Advisory Board Chair David Flaum, who passed in 2020.

The second video was the heartfelt story of the Smith family, whose 2-year-old son was first in the region to be treated by FEI’s recently established ocular oncology center for a rare and potentially fatal cancer.

By the night’s end, new friendships were forged, old ones rekindled, and a record was set. More than $2 million was raised. Funds will be directed to FEI’s community outreach programs and its never-ending mission to search for cures for blindness.


“We are eternally grateful to all those who donated and purchased auction items and made generous contributions, the Wegmans, auction committee members, and the staff who supported this successful event,” said FEI Chair David DiLoreto, MD, PhD.

Zachary Laird | 11/3/2025