Fundraisers

Lucky 13 raffle: The Geneva Lions Club has launched its 2008 Lucky 13 Raffle. Chairman Steve Gayheart, members Jim Cleave and Don Forni said 13 cash prizes will be awarded totaling $14,750 with a grand prize of $10,000. Raffle tickets are $100 and a maximum of 400 will be sold. Drawings will be on center stage of Swedish Days on June 20 at 7:15 p.m. It will feature the winners of the 2008 Lions scholarships.

Lion President John Martin emphasized that 100 percent of all proceeds after prizes will be used to help fund the club's support of charities, both local and those devoted to causes helping the blind and hearing impaired.

Tickets are available from all members of the Geneva Lions Club or by calling Steve Gayheart at (630) 222-7134, Jim Cleave at (630) 272-2307 or Don Forni at (630) 232-2714.

Lucky 13 is an annual event sponsored by the Geneva Lions during Swedish Days.

Painted Violins fundraiser: The Fox Valley Philharmonic will perform at 7:30 p.m. June 26 at the Paramount Arts Centre in Aurora.

The "Salute to America" concert will feature the orchestra and a chorus of local singers in a rousing patriotic program.

"The audience will have the opportunity to sing along, clap and even whistle," said Philharmonic music director Jason R. Palmer. "They can sing some of Richard Rogers' most memorable Broadway songs, whistle to the 'Colonel Bogey March' from the movie 'Bridge on the River Kwai' and clap joyously along with John Philip Sousa's immortal 'Stars and Stripes Forever'."

Also on the program will be a brief tribute to American composer Leroy Anderson in honor of his centennial year. Anderson works include "Bugler's Holiday" which will feature the orchestra's trumpet section and "The Typewriter." The orchestra will perform a tribute to the wild west with John Williams' "The Cowboys Overture" and Aaron Copland's "Hoe Down." Additional choral pieces include the "Battle Hymn of the Republic" and "America the Beautiful."

The evening's festivities also will include a gala reception and the auctioning of the Painted Violins. Bidding on the violins will continue through intermission and the winners will be announced at the close of the concert.

The Painted Violins are 16 instruments that have been transformed into one-of-a-kind pieces of art by renowned Fox Valley area artists. The violins have been touring local galleries since their unveiling in February.

The Fox Valley Philharmonic is a community orchestra sponsored by The Fox Valley Academy of Music Performance which also operates the Fox Valley Youth Symphony Orchestras and the Access to Music program for underprivileged children.

Tickets for the June 26 gala and auction are $40 per person and include hors d'oeuvres, cash bar and the auction. Tickets for the concert alone are $18 for adults and $13 for students/seniors and are available by calling (630) 879-8018.

Relay For Life: The American Cancer Society says one in three Americans will be diagnosed with the disease during their lifetime. There is a way to make a difference in the battle. On June 27-28, hundreds of local survivors, caregivers, family, friends and volunteers will participate in the Relay For Life of Kane County.

Relay For Life is a fun-filled, overnight celebration to honor survivors, remember loved ones and raise money to fight cancer. The event is at Philip B. Elfstrom Stadium in the Kane County Events Center. Opening ceremonies begin at 7 p.m., and the relay officially starts when local cancer survivors unite to walk or ride during the first lap of the event. After the first lap, they are joined by caregivers - family, friends and those who have helped during their battles with cancer.

Afterward and throughout the night, teams of eight to 15 members use an illuminated path to guide participants as they walk around the clock. Though not all teams stay overnight, those that do designate at least one team member to walk or run at all times. Food, games, music and special activities keep energy high during the night and early morning.

Closing ceremonies are held at 5:30 a.m. June 28. The public is welcome to attend, watch or take part in any of the festivities.

The goal of this year's Relay For Life of Kane County is to raise more than $350,000. With just about a month to go, there are 570 registered participants, 71 teams, and over $119,000 raised.

The Forest Preserve District of Kane County has been a long-time sponsor of the event. 2008 marks the 12th year the district has donated use of Elfstrom Stadium. Additionally, District staff volunteer on the steering committee and during the event.

For details about the Relay For Life of Kane County, call the American Cancer Society at (630) 879-9009, ext. 3, or visit the Web site at www.relayforlifekane.com.

Cadet Classic Golf Outing: The Marmion Alumni Association will hold its 25th annual Cadet Classic Golf Outing on July 25 at Bliss Creek Golf Club in Sugar Grove. It is a scramble format with shotgun start at 1 p.m. The field is limited to the first 144 paid players at a cost of $125 per player or $500 per foursome. The fee includes a round of golf, cart, prizes, lunch and dinner. To register or for information, contact alumni director Dan Howell at (630) 897-6936, ext. 265. Registration deadline is July 11.

OrthoKids raffle: The Kiwanis Club of Geneva is selling raffle tickets to benefit Delnor-Community Hospital's OrthoKids aquatic exercise class, a therapeutic class designed for children with neurological and orthopedic conditions.

The program utilizes the benefits of warm water to maximize movement in children with physical and sensory conditions, and relies on volunteers to work one-on-one with each child. Currently, the program serves 70 kids.

"The program also helps a lot of children who are developmentally delayed or premature in birth and unable to walk. They are learning how to walk in the water first, where it is safe so if they fall a few times they are protected by the water," states Jennifer Simmons, OrthoKids program leader.

Over the years, the Kiwanis Club of Geneva has raised funds that have helped the OrthoKids Program with the following: purchasing equipment; buying an underwater camera; giving out scholarships; and keeping the cost of the class down to $25 a session.

This year, the OrthoKids Program has been given another challenge: If they sell at least $3,500 in ticket sales, an anonymous donor will match that amount.

Tickets are $5 each, or $20 for a book of five. Cash prizes include: $1,000, $750 and $250. The drawing is July 17. People can purchase tickets or obtain additional information about Delnor's OrthoKids program by calling Jennifer Simmons, OrthoKids program leader, at (630) 208-5510 or e-mailing her jennifer.simmons@delnor.com

Checks should be made out to Kiwanis Club of Geneva.