Aurora fundraiser seeks ‘bail’ donations for scholarships

Aurora Alderman Juany Garza is going to “jail” this Sunday.

But she’s not accused of any crimes or facing any charges.

Garza and 12 other Aurora leaders will spend time Sunday afternoon behind fake jail bars made of spray-painted PBC piping to raise money for college scholarships the Aurora Puerto Rican Cultural Council plans to offer.

And the amount of time “prisoners” will spend “locked up” depends on how quickly they can make bail — by collecting donations from friends, family and community members who will gather from 1 to 6 p.m. at Esteban’s, 1550 N. Route 59 in Naperville, for the council’s first “Lock-Up” fundraiser.

“I think it’s an excellent idea to try to raise funds,” Garza said.

The “prisoners,” including Alderman-at-Large Richard Irvin, at least two Aurora police officers and several members of the Aurora Puerto Rican Cultural Council, will be fingerprinted, escorted to their cell by a security guard and given only bread and water to eat. They will even be required to wear a plastic ball and chain during bathroom breaks, said Mirna Lopez-Freitag, president of the Puerto Rican Cultural Council.

Others in the crowd can feast on food from Esteban’s and enjoy dancing, live music, face painting and raffles.

“There’s going to be a celebration in hopes that we’re able to break ourselves out one way or another,” Irvin said. “If I can’t, then I’m going to have to pay up on my own.”

While “prisoners” attempt to make bail, event attendees can counteract their efforts with donations to keep them in captivity longer, Lopez-Freitag said. She hopes the competing donations, fun atmosphere and well-known pretend jailbirds will draw at least 200 people to the event and generate enough funds to support six $1,000 scholarships.

The cultural council received 10 applications for its yearly scholarship program, and Lopez-Freitag said the group intends to give each applicant some financial support, even if it’s only $500. Scholarships will be awarded July 24 at the annual Puerto Rican Cultural Council Pageant.

“Just knowing that a little (money) can mean a lot for somebody, we’re going to advocate for that,” Lopez-Freitag said.