Wine Quest | 30th annual, signature two-night fundraiser May 8 & 9
Proceeds will benefit Quest, Inc.’s programs and resources, benefiting adults and children with developmental disabilities
RAISING A GLASS TO THREE DECADES OF UNFORGETTABLE MOMENTS. INCREDIBLE WINES AND LIFE CHANGING IMPACT. THAT’S WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT. WE’RE JUST DAYS AWAY FROM THE 30TH ANNUAL WINE QUEST. AND JOINING ME NOW TO SHARE MORE ABOUT THE GREAT CAUSE AND HOW YOU CAN JOIN IN. THIS IS LAUREN NELSON, VICE PRESIDENT OF PHILANTHROPY WITH QUEST, INC. GREAT TO SEE YOU. GREAT TO SEE YOU TOO. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. 30 YEARS. HOW’S THAT FEEL? OH MY GOSH. IT’S INCREDIBLE. AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, DOING AN EVENT FOR 30 YEARS AND KEEPING IT FRESH AND EXCITING, IT IS SO EXCITING TO CELEBRATE A MILESTONE. I LOVE A GOOD MILESTONE. QUEST LOVES A GOOD MILESTONE, SO WE ARE READY TO PARTY AND WE ARE READY TO RAISE FUNDS, RAISE A GLASS, AND REALLY HELP OUR CLIENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY. OKAY, SO FIRST THINGS FIRST, TELL US ABOUT QUEST. IF PEOPLE DON’T KNOW THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING. YES, ABSOLUTELY. SO I ALWAYS LIKE TO, TO TELL PEOPLE WE ARE QUEST INC. WE’RE NOT THE OTHER QUEST, SO WE CAN’T HELP YOU WITH YOUR LAB WORK. OKAY, SO PLEASE DON’T DROP THAT OFF. YEAH, YEAH. PLEASE DON’T. SO FOR MORE THAN 60 YEARS, WE HAVE BEEN HELPING OUR COMMUNITY, SPECIFICALLY PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. AND OUR WHOLE MISSION IS TO HELP THEM EXPERIENCE A FULL LIFE. AND JUST LIKE YOU AND I WOULD WANT, THEY WANT THE SAME THINGS. THEY JUST NEED A LITTLE EXTRA SUPPORT. THEY WANT FRIENDS. THEY WANT TO HAVE AN EDUCATION. AND SO THAT’S WHAT QUEST REALLY IS. AND, AND SOMETIMES PEOPLE DON’T EVEN REALIZE THE BREADTH OF SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE. I MEAN, WE SERVE ALMOST 700 CLIENTS A DAY ACROSS CENTRAL FLORIDA AND TAMPA. SO WE ARE A HUGE NONPROFIT THAT IS MAKING A BIG IMPACT. AND BECAUSE YOU’RE A NONPROFIT, YOU DO NEED ALL OF US TO GET INVOLVED. AND WE CAN DO THAT BY COMING OUT TO WINE QUEST. YEAH, I MEAN, WINE QUEST IS OUR SIGNATURE EVENT 30 YEARS. IT’S A TWO NIGHT EVENT. IT’S MAY 8TH AND NINTH, SO IT’S A FABULOUS WAY TO KICK OFF MOTHER’S DAY WEEKEND, JUST FYI. OH, YEAH. YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES THE DADS AND THE HUSBANDS NEED A LITTLE PUSH TO DO SOMETHING FOR MOM, BUT I AM HAPPY TO SAY THAT OUR SATURDAY NIGHT EVENT IS SOWE ARE LOVE TO HAVE PEOPLE COME FRIDAY. FRIDAY IS A LOT OF FUN. FOOD MIX AND MINGLE. MORE THAN 200 VENDORS. YOU CAN SIP AND SAMPLE WINE AND SPIRITS. OKAY, SO NOT JUST WINE, NOT JUST WINE. YOU CAN ALSO HAVE SPIRITS TOO. AND WE’RE SO GRATEFUL BECAUSE WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS PARTNER. THEY’VE ACTUALLY PARTNERED WITH US FOR 20 YEARS. ANOTHER BIG MILESTONE, SOUTHERN GLACIER WINE AND SPIRITS. SO THEY BRING THE PARTY. THEY BRING THE LIFE WITH ALL OF THEIR SUPPLIERS. AND WE GET TO HAVE THIS REALLY EDUCATIONAL MOMENT, BUT ALSO HAVE A LOT OF FUN, RESPONSIBLY. SURE. YEAH. AND TELL US HOW THIS STARTED BECAUSE YOU WERE YOU WERE JUST GIVING ME A LITTLE BIT OF A TASTE INTO THIS BEING SOMETHING THAT REALLY WAS LIKE IN SOMEBODY’S LIVING ROOM WHEN IT ALL BEGAN. YES. YOU KNOW, THE, THE IMPETUS, THE CONCEPT OF WINE QUEST REALLY STARTED IN SOMEONE’S HOME. OUR, OUR FOUNDER AND FIRST CEO OF QUEST, KATIE PORTER, HAD HAS THIS GREAT GROUP OF FRIENDS AND THEY GOT TOGETHER, TICO PEREZ AND A FEW OTHER PEOPLE. AND INTO THIS TWO NIGHT, MASSIVE, WONDERFUL EVENT, YOU KNOW. BUT HONESTLY, I FEEL LIKE THAT’S JUST THE SAME THING THAT QUEST IS ALL ABOUT. WE WERE STARTED BY FAMILIES 60 SOMETHING YEARS AGO. EIGHT FAMILIES CAME TOGETHER AND SAID, HEY, WE NEED TO DO MORE FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND FOR OUR KIDS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. AND HERE WE ARE DOING IT ALL THIS TIME LATER FOR YOU, IS THERE A PARTICULAR PROGRAM THAT QUEST IS BEHIND THAT YOU SAY, THIS IS SO SPECIAL TO ME AND WE NEED THIS FUNDING TO KEEP IT GOING. OH MY GOSH. WELL, OF COURSE I LOVE EVERYTHING THAT I KNOW. I’M MAKING YOU PICK ONE. YOUR FAVORITE BABY. WELL, I WOULD SAY HONESTLY, ONE OF OUR BIGGEST NEEDS RIGHT NOW IS SCHOLARSHIPS AND GAP FUNDING SO THAT WE CAN HELP CHILDREN WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES ACCESS THE SERVICES THEY NEED, LIKE ABA THERAPY FOR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM AND OTHER OTHER NEEDS. SURE. YOU KNOW, THE ECONOMY IS A LITTLE TRICKY RIGHT NOW. SO A LOT OF FAMILIES ARE STRUGGLING WITH INSURANCE. AND, YOU KNOW, JUST MAKING SURE THAT THEY HAVE THE BASIC NEEDS AT HOME. AND SO FUNDS LIKE THAT WE CAN RAISE THROUGH WINE QUEST ARE INVALUABLE IN ORDER FOR US TO BE ABLE TO SERVE MORE CHILDREN AND HELP THOSE FAMILIES WHO ARE IN NEED. WE LOVE THAT. SO WE’RE GOING TO GET BEHIND THE GREAT CAUSE. TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE FOR FRIDAY NIGHT. CONGRATS. YOU SOLD SATURDAY. SOLD OUT. DO NOT WAIT OR YOU’RE NOT GOING TO GET IN. YES, WE’VE GOT A LINK TO THE WEBSITE AND ALL OF THAT TICKET INFORMATION UP ON WESH.COM. YES. THANKS FOR THE W
Wine Quest | 30th annual, signature two-night fundraiser May 8 & 9
Proceeds will benefit Quest, Inc.’s programs and resources, benefiting adults and children with developmental disabilities
Updated: 9:56 AM EDT May 6, 2026
Quest, Inc. will host Wine Quest, the nonprofit organization’s 30th annual signature fundraiser, on May 8 and 9 at the Caribe Royal Resort in Orlando. Proceeds from the event will benefit Quest, Inc.’s programs and resources that help adults and children with developmental disabilities live full lives.Quest provides children’s therapy and education, employment training and placement, residential communities, life-skills training and summer camp experiences. Vice President of Philanthropy Lauren Nelson joins WESH 2 to preview the event. Grand Tasting ExperienceFriday, May 8 Wine and craft spirit tastings, hors d’oeuvres, silent auction, wine-themed festivities Premier Dining CelebrationSaturday, May 9Reception, hors d’oeuvres, music, silent auction display, four-course dining experience, program, live auction and moreClick here for ticket information and to learn more. >> Watch the full interview in the video player above.
ORLANDO, Fla. —
Quest, Inc. will host Wine Quest, the nonprofit organization’s 30th annual signature fundraiser, on May 8 and 9 at the Caribe Royal Resort in Orlando.
Proceeds from the event will benefit Quest, Inc.’s programs and resources that help adults and children with developmental disabilities live full lives.
Quest provides children’s therapy and education, employment training and placement, residential communities, life-skills training and summer camp experiences.
Vice President of Philanthropy Lauren Nelson joins WESH 2 to preview the event.
Grand Tasting Experience
Friday, May 8
Wine and craft spirit tastings, hors d’oeuvres, silent auction, wine-themed festivities
Premier Dining Celebration
Saturday, May 9
Reception, hors d’oeuvres, music, silent auction display, four-course dining experience, program, live auction and more
Click here for ticket information and to learn more.
>> Watch the full interview in the video player above.