The Graduate Theological Union’s

Blessing of the Crush

Thursday, October 5, 2006

The fifth annual Blessing of the Crush, an elegant and festive evening of dinner, wine tasting, and silent auction, will be held in San Francisco at the St. Regis Hotel on Thursday, October 5.

The first Blessing of the Crush was planned as a celebration of the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Graduate Theological Union. The evening, which was also a fundraiser, was a rousing success, securing more than $90,000 to support student scholarships; thus an annual event was born. Each year at the Blessing of the Crush, we celebrate the role and history of wine in different religious traditions—while enjoying good food and great company.

Tickets are available at several different levels, all of which include a wonderful dinner, wine tasting, and access to our silent auction. Click on the links below for a ticket order form, or for more information about the event. Call 510/ 649-2436 or e-mail crush@gtu.edu with any additional questions.

• Ticket order form
• Blessing of the Crush history

2006 Guest of Honor: Senator John Danforth
The Blessing of the Crush provides us with an opportunity to honor an important person in the GTU community. In past years we have honored Henry Luce III, Dr. Huston Smith, and Dr. Charles Townes. This year our guest of honor is Senator John Danforth, whose distinguished career in the U.S. government spans service as Missouri Attorney General, U.S. Senator from Missouri, U.S. Special Envoy to Iraq, and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. An ordained Episcopal priest, Sen. Danforth has written the book Faith and Politics: How the Moral Values Debate Divides America and How to Move Forward Together, which will be published this fall. His is an important voice in the national dialogue on religion, government, and culture, and his work carries great resonance with the mission of the GTU.

Click here to read more about Senator Danforth.

Supporting GTU Students
All proceeds from the Blessing of the Crush support student scholarships.

GTU students are engaged in critical and creative study in fields ranging from art and religion to biblical studies and Buddhist studies, as well as ethics and social theory, religion and science, Asian theology, and many others. Your participation in our benefit gala helps develop the next generation of theological and religious leaders for a world where understanding across religious cultural boundaries is more important than ever before. Read more about GTU student projects.

2006 Blessing of the Crush Gala Committee
The contributions of the Gala Committee are indispensable in making the Blessing of the Crush both an elegant and festive evening. Please join us in saluting this year's committee members.

Gala Committee Chair

• Susan Cook Hoganson

Gala Committee

• Betsy Bliss
• Joan McGrath
• Jeffrey M. Scales
• Rita R. Semel
• Maureen O'Brien Sullivan
• John W. Weiser

2006 Blessing of the Crush Honorary Committee Announced!
We are very happy to announce the following members of the 2006 Blessing of the Crush Honorary Committee. Through their commitment, Honorary Committee members are instrumental to the success of the gala. We thank them for their support of the Graduate Theological Union’s student scholarships.

• Mr. and Mrs. Riley Bechtel
• Senator Barbara Boxer
• Ms. Judith Berling and Rhoda Bunnell
• Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Bertelsen
• Mr. and Mrs. Mervyn Burke
• Mr. and Mrs. George Chammas
• Alan M. and Lauren B. Dachs
• Viki and John Duff
• Delia Fleishhacker Ehrlich
• Mr. Jeffrey Farber
• Mr. and Mrs. Walter Hewlett
• The Koret Foundation
• Congresswoman Barbara Lee
• Mr. Fred M. Levin and Ms. Nancy Livingston
• Bob and Joan McGrath
• Mayor Gavin Newsom
• Archbishop George Niederauer
• John T. Noonan and Mary Lee Noonan
• Mr. and Mrs. Brian O’Hara
• Ms. Peggy Olsen
• Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, House Democratic Leader
• The Rev. Stephen Privett, SJ
• Mark Schlesinger and Christine Russell
• Maureen and Craig Sullivan
• Maria and John Weiser

* Partial listing as of July 17, 2006

2006 Blessing of the Crush Vintner Committee Announced!
We would also like to extend a special thank you to those wineries that have made a contribution to our auction or tasting, to date. We are also proud to feature Rodney Strong Vineyards as the featured wine with dinner. Their generosity is critical to the support of the GTU’s ecumenical mission. Welcome to the 2006 Vintner Committee.

• Cline Cellars
• Gann Family Cellars
• Grgich Hills
• Hafner Vineyard
• Ridge Vineyards, Inc.
• Rodney Strong Vineyards

* Partial listing as of July 17, 2006

We hope to see you there!