Fox Chapel woman teams with winemaker whose sales benefit charitable groups

Giving back never tasted so good.

OneHope is a winery in the Napa Valley that pairs charity with cheers, offering online wine sales and fundraisers nationwide with a mission of changing the world, one bottle at a time.

What began in 2007 with eight friends selling wine from the back of a pickup, OneHope has since donated more than $5 million to global causes including breast cancer research, meals for children, pet adoption, new schools in third-world countries and more.

Dana Hanna, 45, of Fox Chapel, is a full-time nonprofit fundraising consultant who serves as a lead impact director and ambassador with OneHope.

Her 2020 has been marked by challenges.

“It’s actually one of the reasons that I found OneHope. My dad was suffering from cancer all last spring before he passed in July,” Hanna said. “I found that throwing myself into charity work distracted me from problems.”

Describing helping others as a “bright spot,” Hanna noted that nonprofits have been hit hard because of the pandemic.

“So many nonprofits are struggling this year,” Hanna said.

A OneHope Wine virtual fundraiser allows the charity to connect with their donors “in an easy and fun virtual format,” Hanna said.

The participants choose from more than 90 wines, including a rainbow and glitter-themed Pride California Brut ($59).

“These wines can’t be found at the state store,” Hanna said.

OneHope donates 10% of proceeds from every event back to the nonprofit of choice.

“My team and I have given back over $35,000 to charity,” Hanna said.

Pittsburgh-area charities that have hosted virtual wine events include Fayette Friends of Animals, Christ the Divine Teacher Catholic Academy, Girls Hope of Pittsburgh, The Will Allen Foundation, Family House and The YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh.

“We’ve been able to generate anywhere from $300 to an organization that serves families in medical crisis, $1,500 to another that works to empower young people and improve health in communities and more than $5,000 to a fund that provides free health care for children,” Hanna said.

Alexis Allen of Squirrel Hill, wife of former Steelers player Will Allen, is administrative assistant at The Will Allen Foundation.

She recently partnered with OneHope and Hanna for The Will Allen Foundation Holiday Giving Program, an annual holiday outreach where children from the local Boys & Girls Club go shopping for their own families.

“The feedback on OneHope was great. And the packaging is unique and the glitter bottles and fun packaging take it up a notch,” Allen said. “OneHope proceeds sponsored one of the 60 participating families this year.”

YMCA senior vice president and chief development officer Carolyn Grady said a May OneHope fundraiser proved successful, even during a covid lockdown when Y facilities were closed.

“It was a creative solution during a time when things were locked down,” Grady said. “It was our first wine fundraiser and gave us an opportunity to thank our donors and update them with a follow-up virtual happy hour.”

Grady said the Y raised almost $3,000, with proceeds benefiting one of the “greatest needs” at the Y — food insecurity.

OneHope’s original three varietals featured chardonnay to support breast cancer research and awareness, Cabernet to support children with Autism and Merlot supporting AIDS treatment and prevention.

The Gold Shimmer Brut is a top seller.

“The bottle is a showstopper,” Hanna said. “People never throw these away and they become vases or decorative pieces in the bar.”

Hanna pointed out that sales from The California Vintner Chardonnay Pink Glitter ($59) funds clinical trials to find a cure for breast cancer. To date, it has funded more than 18,800 days of clinical trials.

Wine prices range from $25 a bottle to higher-priced “splurge bottles” of $125 and up.

Any federally approved 501(c)(3) nonprofit is eligible for donations.

“We serve everyone,” Hanna said.

Although Hanna earns a commission, she said she often donates that to local charities.

Wines ship domestically to 44 states that allow for interstate direct-to-consumer wine commerce, including Pennsylvania.

“OneHope has been a source of positivity and light for me in 2020,” Hanna said. “In a year filled with sadness, fear and death, it would have been very easy to wallow in my own set of circumstances. Using my energy to help others has brought me much happiness.”