BETHLEHEM, PA – Chris Cree, founder and managing partner of Cree Wine Company, is coming to the Lehigh Valley on May 31 to headline the 2024 Northampton Community College (NCC) Food & Wine Gala. The event is the college’s largest annual fundraising event and supports scholarships for students who are most in need.

Cree is one of only 56 people in the country, and the only one in the region, to earn the prestigious distinction of Master of Wine. His vast knowledge on the subject is the result of learning the wine trade from the ground up, traveling to many wine regions and wineries, working during harvest, researching – and of course, tasting. He has worked in many aspects of the industry, including retail, wholesale, import, restaurant, marketing, and as an educator.

The NCC Food & Wine Gala is an offshoot of the Lehigh Valley Food & Wine Festival, the area’s most celebrated cuisine and beverage festival. Now in its second year, the NCC Food & Wine Gala will return to its roots and take place in the Arthur L. Scott Spartan Center on NCC’s beautiful Bethlehem campus.

The evening will include a cocktail hour, a three-course dinner with delectable wine pairings selected by Cree, a scrumptious dessert, open bar, and live music from The Weekenders.

The gala will also include an auction featuring opportunities to bid on vintage collectable wines, amazing experiences, and other activities to support NCC.

All proceeds from the gala directly benefit NCC students. To date, the event has raised over $2.5 million for scholarships at the college, transforming the lives of countless students by providing access to top-quality education and life-changing opportunities.

To become a sponsor or purchase tickets to the event, please visit nccfoodandwine.org.

We are grateful for those who have helped make this event a success and for this year’s sponsors, which include: Wind Creek Bethlehem; B. Braun Medical Inc.; C.F. Martin & Co., Inc.; Cumulus Media; Fulton Financial Advisors; CAPTRUST|Mike and Diane Molewski Charitable Fund; J.G. Petrucci Company, Inc.; PSECU; Adams Outdoor; Air Products; BSI; Buzzi Unicem USA; Capital BlueCross; Steve & Jeanne Follett; Follett Products; Highmark Blue Shield; HNL Lab Medicine; Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital; Mortgage America; St. Luke’s University Health Network; SWIM USA; Gavin & Diamond Zuchlinski; ASR Media Productions; Barry Islett & Associates; Brown-Daub Family of Dealerships; Buckno Lisicky & Company; Connell Funeral Home; Daniel’s BMW; D’Huy Engineering Inc.; Fitzpatrick Lentz & Bubba; HB Engineers Inc.; Jerdon Construction; Just Born Quality Confections; King, Spry, Herman, Freund & Faul LLC; Joel & Renee Klaperman; Lehigh Valley Press; M & T Bank; Morning Star Living; One Putt Ventures; Bruce & Judy Palmer; PNC Bank; PPL Foundation; Sodexo; Truist; United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley; and Working Dog Press. 

About Northampton Community College

With an enduring commitment to the regional community it serves and a focus on student success, Northampton Community College has developed a reputation as an institution of extraordinary distinction, earning accolades at the state and national levels for innovative programs, outstanding faculty and impressive student achievements. It counts among its successful alumni a four-time Pulitzer Prize winner and an Academy Award winning director as well as a host of CEOs, presidents, and leaders of business and industry. Today, Northampton Community College has locations in Bethlehem, Southside Bethlehem, and Monroe County, serving 30,000 students each year from 53 counties, 42 countries and 25 states. For more information, or to apply, please visit www.northampton.edu. Follow NCC’s President on Twitter @NCCPresDaveRuth, and follow the College on TikTok @NorthamptonCC and on Instagram @NorthamptonCommCollege. Like us on Facebook at Northampton Community College.