The world-famous Santa Fe Opera is perhaps the most important of the many cultural charities supported Southern Wine and Spirits of New Mexico, a division of Southern Wine and Spirits of America, Inc., according to Michael Chiordi, Vice President and General Manager of SWS division.

"Just as we support many other important community-oriented and social service causes in this state, we have been a proud sponsor of the Santa Fe Opera Opening Night, many different Gala Evening events, as well as other related fund-raising causes for the Santa Fe Opera for more than a decade," said Mr. Chiordi. "We are proud to play a role in the support of this world-class cultural institution." All proceeds from these events go to support the Santa Fe Opera.

SWS of New Mexico is the exclusive wine and spirits sponsor for the numerous charitable events at the Santa Fe Opera, generously donating products from its portfolio of fine wines and spirits. "We are proud to participate and support this great cultural institution as we do for many other charities, and we continue to want to play a constructive role in these kinds of efforts across New Mexico," said Mr. Chiordo. Currently, SWS of New Mexico is lending its hand to raise funds for the Opera's new Hospitality Center, which will most likely be utilized for food and wine events in the future, among other uses.

Southern Wine and Spirits of New Mexico: Children's Safe House of Albuquerque
The Children's Safe House of Albuquerque New Mexico is one of the most gratifying community-based charitable organizations that Southern Wine and Spirits of New Mexico supports, according to Michael Chiordi, the company's Vice President and General Manager.

"I am very proud of our company's and our employees' efforts on behalf of the Children's Safe House, and we look forward to making this coming year's event a huge success in terms of fund-raising," said Mr. Chiordi. "Our efforts here are symbolic of our close ties to the local community and our desire to be good corporate citizens."

Southern Wine and Spirits of New Mexico is the sole donor of fine wine and spirits for the Children's Safe House wine and food fund-raiser held once a year in the fall. According to Mr. Chiordi, the Children's Safe House offers a haven for abused children, and is part of a much larger critical state and national network of safe houses. In addition to corporate support from Southern Wine and Spirits of New Mexico, Mr. Chiordi said that a large group of company executives, sales and support staff all contribute personal time to make the annual fund-raiser a local success.

Southern Wine and Spirits of New Mexico offers substantial support to dozens of local social service, medical and community-based charitable activities across New Mexico. It is a division of Southern Wine and Spirits of America, Inc., the nation's largest wine and spirits distributor.