A generous lot in Fox Valley
We are a generous lot here in the Fox Valley, with a wide array of agencies dedicated to helping those in need.
Area residents have several opportunities in the next month to open their hearts and wallets to various good causes. I know there are probably many more events on tap, but here are some details on just three.
• The Geneva Community Chest's Golf Outing -- the fifth annual -- tees off Aug. 25 at Mill Creek Golf Club.
Cost is $150 for each golfer and includes golf (naturally!), plus lunch and dinner. Raffles and auctions also are on the docket.
To participate, contact Andy Crance at 262-442-8007. Last year's outing raised more than $17,000.
Where does the money go? Well, this organization -- founded in 1970 -- contributes funds to a myriad of groups, so you're helping people with a wide range of needs and issues all at once! The Geneva Community Chest is today supporting the American Red Cross, Association for Individual Development, Breaking Free -- Family Support Center, CASA Kane County, Central DuPage Hospital Injury Prevention, Elderly Center Inc., Fox Valley Volunteer Hospice, Hoofbeats & Heartbeats, Lazarus House, Literacy Volunteers of America, Mutual Ground, Salvation Army, Shelter Assistance Committee, Suicide Prevention Service, TriCity Family Services, TriCity Health Partnership and Tri-County Golden Diner's nutrition program.
• The Paul Ruby Foundation for Parkinson's Research will hold its second annual "Concert for a Cure" and auction on Sept. 6.
Festivities begin at 5:30 p.m., at Tanna Farms, 39W808 Hughes Road, Geneva.
Performing for the crowds will be country music star Robbie Fulks; HOSS, a popular Kane County band; Noah Gabriel, Aurora singer/songwriter/guitarist; and the Gaddis Girls of Springfield, best known for country duet-type music.
"Their father has Parkinson's, too, so their participation is especially meaningful. Besides that, they're awesome performers," said Ruby.
Lisa Dent, morning co-host for US99 radio station, will emcee.
Proceeds will benefit the foundation. Tickets are available before the concert at Park Place Interiors and Kiss the Sky, both in Geneva, and Mill Creek Market in the Mill Creek subdivision, or online at www.paulrubyfoundation.org. Tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for children 12 and younger.
And this foundation is really a local cause. Paul Ruby lives in Geneva with his wife Linda and two boys, Wes and Logan. In 2006, after suffering symptoms for two years, he was formally diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson's Disease.
He created the foundation that bears his name in early 2007. The goal is to increase awareness and raise money and support research to find a cure for this progressive disease of the central nervous system.
Proceeds from this year's event will benefit the Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Center of Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine and Northwestern Memorial Hospital. The money will be used to increase clinical research toward the end of extending knowledge, improving treatment and finding a cure for Parkinson's.
• And let's not forget an upcoming event that's fun for kids and benefits them at the same time: the Geneva Academic Foundation's annual Viking Boat Race on Sept. 13. This fund-raiser is near and dear to me, as I'm a former board member of GAF, which raises money to fund vital extras for Geneva's schools.
The race, and an extensive accompanying raft of activities for kids, will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. at Island Park.
Residents may purchase rubber boats, launched off the State Street bridge to race toward the finish line at Island Park. If your boat wins, you do, too.
Besides the race there are games for kids, inflatable for jumping, a dunk tank, face painting, tattoos and other fun fair-type games. Food for purchase is on the menu, too, as is a raffle and a silent auction. At least one of those auctions is one-of-a-kind -- the chance to ride with Santa in the horse-drawn carriage during the Christmas Walk. And if you have a high school senior, get in line to bid on front-row tickets to the May 2009 GHS graduation. Also available will be front-row seats to events at other district schools, such as elementary school plays and programs.
A raffle is part of the event as well. First prize is a 42-inch plasma television set. Second prize is $700 cash and third prize is $500. Tickets are $10 each.
GAF has been around for more than 20 years now, providing hundreds of thousands of dollars for all kinds of items, from computers, to software programs, to microscopes, to books, to books on tape and a huge range of other extras, including the hot video game "Dance, Dance Revolution," which gets kids exercising in a fun way.
Last year's Boat Race had to go on sans boats, and in Wheeler Park, after the August 2007 storm flooded Island Park. (Remember that storm? On the second day of school? I sure do, especially after the horrible weather that swept through last Monday.)
"We are looking forward to having it back at the original venue this year at the river," said GAF Chairman John Shogren. "All proceeds go towards grants that help further enhance all Geneva school students' education."
Boats are $5 each or $20 for a fleet of five. GAF members will be selling them up until the race, but for those who can't wait, the boats can be obtained by calling boat sales chairperson Dave Levy, at (630) 232-0928.
And I know this is really a long ways off, but GAF will also help you get your holiday shopping done when you give money to Geneva's schools, at a special Crate & Barrel shopping event on Nov. 21. Mark your calendar now.
All these events are opportunities to help others -- and have fun at the same time.