A downtown Loveland wine tasting on Sept. 14 will send $10 from every ticket sold to the Ben Morrison Fund during Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month.
The event, called "Raise a Glass, Raise Hope," runs from 7 to 9 p.m. at Rosé Boutique & Wine Bar, 110 S. 2nd St., Suite B, in the Loveland Station complex near Graeter's Ice Cream. The family-owned wine bar is run by Bob and Colleen Coppola.
Tickets are $45 per person, with $10 going directly to the fund, according to the Ben Morrison Fund's Instagram page.
The fund was founded in 2021 by Loveland resident Tori Morrison after her son, Ben Morrison, appears to have taken his own life at 19. Ben was a Loveland High School graduate who played football and lacrosse. He had decided to become a firefighter and attend community college, according to the fund's website.
Since then, the organization has distributed more than $52,000 in scholarships and expanded its programs into a dozen schools. "Your support at events like this has allowed us to give more than $52,000 in scholarships to Loveland High School seniors," Morrison said at the fund's sold-out golf outing on Aug. 22, as reported by Loveland Daily News.
The fund also runs Ben's Way, a school kindness initiative that recognizes students for acts of leadership, resilience and encouragement. The program now operates in 12 schools across eight districts. It has recognized more than 160 students, according to the fund's Cincinnati Gives profile.
The Sept. 14 wine tasting is one of several fundraisers the fund has scheduled throughout September. Other events listed on the fund's Instagram include:
- Wednesday, Sept. 9: Dine Out for Ben's Way at Kirby's, 5 to 9 p.m.
- Saturday, Sept. 19: Punchlines for Prevention at Loveland Stage Company, 7 p.m.
- Wednesday, Sept. 23: Bengo at Hops & Berry, 7 p.m.
- Saturday, Sept. 26: Fundraiser at Cappy's Craft Wine & Spirits, 5 to 10 p.m.
- Wednesday, Sept. 30: Bourbon tasting at Bishop's Quarter Bar, 7 p.m.
For ticket details, visit benmorrisonfund.org or contact Rosé Boutique & Wine Bar at (513) 386-7057.
If you are having suicidal thoughts, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
