Approximately 160 persons attended a Thursday evening wine tasting event at Howard Training Center in Ceres to raise funds to help support education and job opportunities for disabled adults.

Besides wine, the crowd enjoyed hors d'oevres, live music, conversation, raffle prizes and a silent auction in Witmer Hall on Stonum Road.

David Dow, a Modesto Junior College professor, played music at the event on a keyboard while an instrumentalist accompanied him.

A silent auction included framed photographs of the late President Ronald Reagan, and framed photographs by sports legends Colin Kaepernick, Willie Mays, Jeff Gordon and Steve Young.

Howard Training Center has held the wine tasting benefit for five years now and recently moved it back to Ceres from the Gallo Centre in Modesto, explained Geri Lewis HTC's events manager.

Tickets were $40 per person.

The wine tasting event was the first attended by Carla Strong since her appointment as executive director of HTC in October.

Howard Training Center was created in 1950 by a group of eight parents concerned with promoting services for area children with developmental disabilities. In 1953, the company incorporated as a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to serving all citizens in Stanislaus County with developmental disabilities, regardless of age or severity of disability. Now known as Howard Training Center (HTC), the 501 ©(3) non-profit organization works to achieve full inclusion of individuals with disabilities in the community through the development of personal and occupational capabilities, the development and delivery of helpful programs and services and community advocacy.

HTC's services include:

• Residential programs such as Home At Last;

• Day programs;

• Production Unlimited and Community Employment vocational training programs;

• Senior meals programs (Meals on Wheels);

• ARC catering services;

• Inner Eye Gallery.

HTC has announced Feb. 5-6, 2016 as the dates for its 22nd annual Crabfest fundraiser.