| In 1998, the Wild Wonderful Women and Friends organization was founded by a group of fun loving ladies that wanted to raise seed money to give to other non-profits to help them flourish in our Mountain Community. In 1999, they produced the first Oakhurst Wild, Wonderful Chocolate Festival.
The festival has grown dramatically over the years and now is an annual event in the Oakhurst Community. A highlight of the 2003 Chocolate Festival was the taping and televising on National Television on the Food Networks, "All American Festivals".
To work on the commitment of having fun, Wild Wonderful Women created the "The Wild, Wonderful Kazoo Band and Precision Marching Drill Team" in 1999 as well. This group takes part each year in the Bass Lake Tree Lighting Parade and has won awards in the Heritage Day Parades in the past.
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In 2002, the King Vintage Museum was founded to house Barbara and Alan King's wonderful 10,000+ vintage clothing collection. In 2008, it was relocated and is now at 40680 Highway 41 in Oakhurst just north of the Days Inn.
2004 brought a joint venture with other local organizations to open the Wonderful Treasures Thrift Shop. This thrift shop is now run solely by the Wild Wonderful Women.
The Wild, Wonderful Women & Friends are not afraid of taking on new ideas. In January 2005 the $1 Million Dollar “Win a Bass Lake Home” or $800,000 in Cash Raffle was launched. The kickoff party took place at the Pines Resort, Bass Lake. Over 500 attendees enjoyed the evening and one lucky winner sailed away with a cruise adventure. The final drawing took place in April awarding over 180 cash prizes. The idea proved to be a tremendous success raising money for charities and opening the door to a new way of fundraising.
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| With all of their projects, Wild Wonderful Women have raised money and contributed to these organizations (and more) over the past years:
The WWW involvement in other community activities includes:
- Bringing the Farmer's Market to Oakhurst
- Creating "Local Talent and Location" brochures for the Madera Film Commission
- Working for the EMC Chamber of Commerce on their first big rummage sale
- Serving hot chocolate and cookies at the Chamber of Commerce tree lighting event for several years
- Hosting a Chamber ice cream mixer at the King Vintage Museum
- Participating in the Chamber's Fall Festival
- Sponsoring and organizing a dance in support of the Civil War re-enactment in Mariposa
- Working registration and counting donations for the Cancer Walks
- Taking part in Golden Chain Theatre productions and Coarsegold Rodeo
- Annual participants in the Christmas Tree Auction.
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