Ten years ago, a simple idea was born – to have a party to raise money for local nonprofit organizations. The idea took shape and the first Cheers to Charity (C2C) event took place in the parking lot outside of what was then Veritas Wine Bar.
Attendance on August 9, 2014, was 148 people – people who believed in the mission and supported the cause. The venue was set up and torn down in one day. There was tasty food, wine, beer, dancing and more. Cheers gave away $15,000 and supported six organizations that year. The team worked hard and felt like they were on to something.
In 2016, the event moved from the parking lot – finding a new home in Aviator Park at the Tehachapi Municipal Airport. In the first nine years, the C2C team has donated just under $400,000 to local nonprofits. The evening of fun, under the stars, grew in sponsorships, attendees, and volunteers with nine hundred in attendance last year.
2024 marks a Decade of Doing Good. Cheers to Charity has something for everyone including craft beer, fine wine, savory foods, dancing, a non-alcoholic bar, coffee bar and dessert bar. There are contests and games of chance, cozy fire pits and a silent auction.
Proceeds from this year's event will be given to the Tehachapi CANCER FOUNDATION (a recipient our first year), Tehachapi Community Theater, Tehachapi Salvation Army, and the Tehachapi Train Depot plus five more partner organizations.
Corporate event sponsors include BHE Renewables, Sangera Subaru, Rio Tinto U.S. Borax, Knight Construction Services, Pacific Steel, Tartaglia Engineering, P Dubs, Woods Pavilion, RC Limousine, AVANTUS, South Street Digital, Team Linda and Stacey, County of Kern, Warne Construction, WM, Terra Gen, Bank of the Sierra, Pearce Renewables, Valley Strong Credit Union, Alta One Credit Union, Semerenko Group and individual sponsors including Lloyd & Barbie Herziger and Tim & MB Garrison. Media sponsors include The Loop newspaper, Tehachapi News, Tehachapi Living Magazine, KGET TV. Discover Tehachapi, Airstreams Renewables, Advanced Beverage, and other In-kind service sponsors.
From the first Cheers in a parking lot, to the 10th Cheers to Charity at the airport, we've grown in offerings and attendees, but we still have a passion for raising money ... just to give it away to organizations making Tehachapi a better, brighter place.
Join us for our 10th Anniversary on Aug. 10. Tickets are $95 for General Admission and $150 for VIP and can be purchased at http://www.Eventbrite.com/.
We hope to see you there! Cheers!