An entertaining evening of fine wine paired with tasty appetizers and a live auction will help bolster the City of Geneva’s downtown parkway tree canopy.
The fourth annual Wine, Cheese and Trees fundraiser will take place from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, March 21 at the Persinger Recreation Center, 3507 Kaneville Road. The event is being hosted by the City of Geneva’s Natural Resources Committee (NRC) in conjunction with the Western Avenue Elementary School’s Get Up and Grow Committee.
Six wines will be paired with cheese and appetizers from local merchants. The evening also will feature live music, a “wine wall” and live auction, which will include a seven-night stay in Hawaii, a sports package of Chicago Bulls and Cubs tickets, an instant wine cellar, a professional photography package and more.
Tickets are $30 per person and can be purchased through Western Avenue School’s website (see link below) or by contacting NRC Chairman Jay Womack via email at jwomack@wrdenvironmental.com.
The NRC has pledged to use event proceeds toward a City parkway reforestation program called the Greening Geneva initiative. Like many communities in the Chicago area, Geneva has lost a number of ash trees due to the Emerald Ash Borer infestation. The City has removed more than 2,500 of the 2,700 infected parkway ash trees during the past several years.
To date, the NRC has raised $20,000 to purchase and plant 60 new trees in downtown Geneva.
Get Up and Grow’s proceeds will augment the organic garden at Western Avenue School with a tool shed/farm stand, additional raised beds, planting materials and art work. The garden was started in 2011 to enhance the existing curriculum through hands-on learning while reinforcing family and community connections. Today, the garden contains planting quadrants, a berry patch, a fruit orchard, a gourd tunnel and native prairie surrounded by accessible walkways that are anchored by a reading circle.
For more information on the Wine, Cheese & Trees fundraiser, contact Jay Womack via email or visit the “Geneva NRC” on Facebook.