$25,000 prize starts Parkinson's fundraiser

Saturday's 3rd annual "Concert for a Cure" to fight Parkinson's disease is starting on a high note, with news that the foundation organizing it has won $25,000 in a wine company's charity giveaway.

The Paul Ruby Foundation was one of 10 groups nationwide competing in the Markham Mark of Distinction contest. People voted online between July 27 and Aug. 23 for their favorites. It was sponsored by Markham Vineyards of California.

"We are beyond ecstatic," said Paul Ruby, himself a Parkinson's patient. Ruby, of Geneva, is general manager of the Herrington Inn in Geneva.

The money will be combined with proceeds from the daylong concert and donated to the Movement and Disorders Clinic at Northwestern Memorial Hospital's Feinberg School of Medicine.

The foundation was one of two winners. The winery will put the foundation logo and information about it on the label of one of its two new wines in its "Philanthropist" line, available for purchase in March.

Saturday's fundraising concert is from 2 to 10 p.m. at Tanna Farms Golf Club, 39W808 Hughes Road, Geneva. Tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for those younger than 21. Tickets can be bought online at paulrubyfoundation.org or Kiss the Sky, Tanna Farms, T.F. Boonies and Mill Creek Market, all in Geneva.

Ten bands will perform. Food will be sold and children's activities are planned. There are silent and live auctions, with emcee Lisa Dent, co-host of radio station WUSN's morning-drive show.

Dent has donated one of the auction prizes, a guitar signed by country stars Trace Adkins and Toby Keith and tickets to attend their September concert and a fan meet-and-greet.

For details, call Geneva Alderman Dawn Vogelsberg at the foundation, (630) 232-1122.