A night of fine wine paired with appetizers and live auction sounds like a perfect night out and supports a worthy cause of planting more trees in Geneva.
The City’s Natural Resources Committee, Geneva Park District Foundation and Geneva Library Foundation will host the 14th annual Wine, Cheese & Trees fundraiser. The event will be held from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22 at the Geneva Public Library, 227 S. Seventh St.
Five wines and three craft beers will be accompanied with cheese, appetizers, and desserts from local merchants and bakers. The evening also will feature live music, a silent auction, raffles, a sushi demonstration, a “wine wall,” and live auction. Some of the live auction items up for bid include an instant wine cellar; Las Vegas and Wisconsin getaways; VIP wine tastings/overnight accommodations in Oregon and California; a summer grilling meat package from Country Village Meats, a one-week stay at a Wyndham vacation resort, and more.
Wine, Cheese & Trees tickets can be purchased for $40 per person or four tickets for $120 at Geneva Wine Cellars and Tasting Room or the Uncommon Find, both located at 227 S. Third St.; or online. No City funds have been used to purchase alcohol for this event.
The Natural Resources Committee has pledged to use the fundraiser money toward bolstering the City’s parkway tree canopy. To date, the committee has funded planting more than 600 trees, including in downtown, Geneva parkways, City Hall, local parks, and each of the schools in Geneva Community Unit School District 304.
The Park District Foundation will use event proceeds to purchase new trees throughout the district, continue supporting the district’s “Oaktober” planting program, install interpretive signage, and incorporate renewable energy strategies in various parks.
The Library Foundation will dedicate funds to support programming and to enhance the library grounds with plantings, art and other educational features.
The groups are hoping to raise $70,000 at the Feb. 22 event.
For more information about Wine, Cheese & Trees, call Natural Resources Committee Chairman Jay Womack at 630-299-9945 or send him an email. To learn more about the committee, visit the City’s website.
For more information about the Geneva Park District Foundation and the Geneva Library Foundation, visit their respective websites.