Help green Geneva’s canopy with Wine, Cheese & Trees fundraiser Feb. 24

Geneva’s community partners will come together to raise a glass for new trees in the community as part of the 2024 Wine, Cheese & Trees fundraiser.

The city’s Natural Resources Committee, Geneva Park District Foundation and Geneva Library Foundation will host the 13th annual Wine, Cheese & Trees. It will be held from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24, at the Geneva Public Library, 227 S. Seventh St.

Six 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 “wine wall,” and live auction.

Some of the live auction items up for bid include an instant wine cellar, two Wisconsin getaways, an E-bike, Chicago White Sox baseball tickets, a one-week stay at a Wyndham vacation resort, and more.

Wine, Cheese & Trees tickets can be purchased for $35 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 the planting of more than 550 trees, including in downtown, Geneva parkways, city hall, local parks, and each of the schools in Geneva Unit 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, upgrade the Peck Farm Park Butterfly house, and install 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 $50,000 at the Feb. 24 event.

For more information about Wine, Cheese & Trees, contact Natural Resources Committee chairman Jay Womack at (630) 299-9945 or jay.womack@gza.com. To learn more about the committee, visit the city’s website at www.geneva.il.us.

For more information about the Geneva Park District Foundation and the Geneva Library Foundation, visit www.genevaparks.org and www.genevalibraryfoundation.org.