Shop downtown Geneva, support schools at same time

The Geneva Academic Foundation is planning a fundraising night out from 3 to 9 p.m. Friday called "Viva Geneva."

More than 100 downtown merchants and restaurants have signed up to participate.

Shoppers will purchase $50 tickets ahead of time. Half of that will go to the foundation, which provides scholarships to students, grants for teachers' special projects and extra equipment for public schools in Geneva.

The other half is "returned" to the purchaser in the form of Merchant Bucks for Geneva stores. The purchaser also receives a discount coupon booklet, which can be used at shops and restaurants.

"It is intended as a hometown shopping festival," said Deborah Brown, fundraising organizer.

It is similar to shopping events the GAF has conducted with the Crate and Barrel store at Geneva Commons on Randall Road.

The Geneva History Center will join in with a scavenger hunt, high school students will play music, there will be food and wine samples, and there will be a raffle of donated items.

Purchasers will also be entered in a drawing for bigger prizes, including a $500 rebate on items they purchase that night, golfing at Tanna Farms, and a stay at the Herrington Inn in Geneva.

The GAF hopes to sell 400 tickets.

"We are almost at $1 million in grants. We would like to meet and exceed that this year," Brown said.

Tickets are on sale at the history center, 113 S. Third St.; State Street Jewelers, 214 W. State St.; and Town and Country Gardens, 211 W. State. You can also order them on the foundation's Web site, gafgeneva.org/Events.htm, or call Brown at (630) 849-4929.