Ames wine bar owner Beth DeVries to receive philanthropy award: 'It's never just one person'

Almost immediately after purchasing Della Viti wine bar in 2014, Beth DeVries started volunteering for and donating to downtown Ames events and organizations.

“About two weeks after I signed the papers to buy this business, someone from the Chamber’s Oktoberfest committee came over and asked if I wanted to put together a wine pavilion for Oktoberfest,” DeVries recalled.

The event was just three weeks away and she’d never put together a wine pavilion, but DeVries still said yes. She volunteered to work and paid her staff to work alongside her.

“From then on, I volunteered for as many things as I had time for,” she said.

In 2015, DeVries started donating the wine for Mary Greeley Medical Center’s Hope Gala.

She teamed up with other area businesses to put together a gift package for the Boys and Girls Club gala, which raises between $2,000 and $3,000.

All that good-deed-doing is being recognized by the Iowa Restaurant Association as it gives DeVries the award for Restaurant Neighbor Philanthropy. She will receive the award during the association’s annual gala Nov. 14 in Des Moines.

Pink Run to help fund breast cancer research is Oct. 22

For Breast Cancer Awareness Month, DeVries started the Pink Party. In 2021, the event morphed into a 5K run.

In 2022, after speaking with the staff at Martha’s House of Hope, she added a 5K on Mother’s Day weekend to benefit that organization. Martha’s House of Hope is a maternity home in Ames that provides pregnant women with shelter.

“We run from here to Mother’s Pub on West Street, which is exactly 3.2 miles away, which is fortuitous,” DeVries said. “In the fall for the Pink Run, we go from Mother’s to here and in the spring we go from here to Mother’s.”

The Pink Run is Oct. 22 and DeVries is looking for sponsors. There will be a run in the morning and silent auction.

“Gary Youngberg at Ames Silversmithing has already donated a pair of earrings. They give so much. Every single event that I’ve ever done they’ve sponsored or given an item for the silent auction,” she said.

More:Tamin Lipsey "Plays it Forward": Ames senior pledges donation to Boys & Girls Clubs of Story County

100 Women Who Care looks for more members, meets Dec. 5

DeVries offers Della Viti as a meeting place for 100 Women Who Care, a group of local philanthropists of which she’s a member.

Each woman in the group donates $100 four times a year. Those funds are pooled and donated to a local organization, which is voted on by members.

“The group meets quarterly. Our goal is to get to 100 members. It’s such a neat group,” DeVries said. “The way I tell people about it is this: I don’t have $5,000 or $10,000 to donate. But I do have $100. And if we can get 100 women with $100, that’s $10,000 we can raise in 30 minutes for a local charity.”

The next meeting is at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 5 at Della Viti, 323 Main St. New members and visitors who just want to find out more are welcome.

More:Della Viti owner helps us pair wine and Girl Scout cookies

Four core principles guide DeVries' business

In a recent 1 Million Cups presentation, DeVries shared the four core principles that guide her business. The first is community.

“It’s really important to me. I think if you support your community, your community will support you,” she said.

That was proven often in her own sphere, she said. During the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, Della Viti customers continued to purchase bottles of wine.

“The fact that I’m still here is a testament to that. It’s never just me. It’s never just one person. It’s very community- and customer-driven,” DeVries said.

The other three principles revolve around customers, quality and change.

“Customers have directed my business. They’ve definitely directed where my business went,” she said.

The idea for a patio on her sidewalk, for example, came from customers.

Expanding from a wine bar to include a large selection of beer and spirits was DeVries listening to the requests of her customers.

Quality is a passion for DeVries and her staff alike, she said. Many members of her staff didn’t have bartending experience, but hiring people who care about quality was key. Teaching the bartending was easy, she said.

“Making sure the quality is there — from service to the actual products — is so important to me,” she said.

Change is a natural human trait, DeVries said. She herself made a huge change when she bought Della Viti.

More:'Not a shelter, but a home': Martha's House of Hope helps pregnant women

DeVries became wine bar owner after years as a scientist

From 2000 to 2013, DeVries was a research scientist for a pharmaceutical company. During her 13 years, DeVries helped make several advances for the business.

During a corporate restructuring in 2013, she was laid off and found it challenging to find a similar-paying job in her field.

But an unexpected business opportunity arose when her friend J.J. Caligiuri, the previous owner of Ames’ Della Viti, asked her if she’d like to buy the business.

“I don’t think anybody should stay still. As a previous scientist, I’m constantly looking for something new, a way to change things up,” she said.

Philanthropy 'just seems normal' to DeVries

DeVries is honored by the philanthropy award, she said, but she’s not all that comfortable with the recognition.

“I think philanthropy is important, but I don't think that it's important to be recognized,” she said.

DeVries grew up in Elkader, where her parents Lee and Verna Length were active in the community and their church.

“So that just seems normal to me,” she said. “It was normal in our community. I grew up without very much, so to both accept and give with awareness and grace is important. On both sides. It makes both people feel good.”

2022 Iowa hospitality award winners

• Restaurateurs of the Year — Mike and Cindy Breitbach, Breitbach's Country Dining, Balltown

• Chef of the Year — Chef Joe Tripp, Harbinger, Des Moines

• Hospitality Employee of the Year — Rosa Pinon Reyes, Americana, Des Moines

• Emerging Leader — Haile Duncan, Mas Margaritas, Cedar Rapids

• Rural Operator of the Year — Staci Watson, Ada J's Steakhouse, Ute

• Purveyor Partner of the Year — John Rasley, E & J Gallo Winery, Des Moines

• American Dream Award — Blanca Plascencia, El Fogon Mexican Grill, West Des Moines

• Faces of Diversity Award — Kathy Conway and Teri Link, Knockout Melts & Rock Salad, Dubuque

• Restaurant Neighbor Philanthropy Award — Bethany DeVries, Della Viti, Ames

• Industry Champion — Jeremy Thompson, Sazerac, Des Moines

• Legislator of the Year — Senator Chris Cournoyer, District 49, Le Claire

• ProStart Educator of Excellence — Andrea Kuhl, Sergeant Bluff-Luton High School

• Mentor of the Year — Chef George Formaro, Orchestrate Hospitality, Des Moines

• Sustainability & Innovation Award — Michael and Ilee Muller, Grace on Main, Elk Horn

Ronna Faaborg covers business and the arts for the Ames Tribune. Reach her at rlawless@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Della Viti wine bar owner Beth DeVries to receive philanthropy award