As with fine wine, age and dedication have become the evolutionary ingredients that have turned Wine in the Pines into one of the most elegant, enchanting and exciting events anywhere. Inspired by Kelly Smith, the daughter of founders Mike and Margaret Smith, Wine in the Pines is a fundraiser held each of the last 26 years to help support UCP Colorado, a non-profit organization which serves over 31,000 Colorado children, adults and families through early education, employment and family support services. Money raised at Wine in the Pines helps support the Kelly Smith Employment Center at UCP Colorado.

More about the Kelly Smith Employment Center:
The Kelly Smith Employment Center at UCP Colorado supports youth and adults with disabilities in obtaining and retaining employment that matches their interests and choices. In-depth pre and post employment services including job placement services and benefit planning for over 4,000 individuals statewide annually through three primary programs: Ready to Achieve Youth Mentoring Program (RAMP), Ticket to Work, and Work Incentive Planning and Assistance Program (WIPA). RAMP had 112 new youth served and 42 obtained paid internships or employment while 28 received higher education, completed certification, or training. Ticket to Work had 122 new referrals and 40 individuals obtained new employment and 54 retained employment more than 90 days. WIPA opened 714 new cases, developing 516 Employment Plans that included use of 474 work incentives. 105 individuals obtained new employment and 106 were able to reduce Social Security benefits.