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With the “million-dollar year” winding down for the Geneva Academic Foundation, they now rely on the inaugural Viva Geneva fundraiser downtown to pass that mark.
From 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7., residents who donate $50 to the foundation will receive $25 in “merchant bucks” for more than 100 participating Geneva businesses, shopping special coupons, entertainment, food and wine sampling and other events.
“This is our major fundraiser of the year,” said the foundation’s Chairman Tom Potkanowicz. “It’s a very critical part of the year and making our numbers. This is the keep-your-fingers-crossed million-dollar year.”
The group, which has been around for more than 20 years, has raised just more than $961,000 since its inception. They hope to break the barrier of $1 million by the end of 2009.
Potkanowicz said the event will be a nice opportunity to allow people to give to the foundation and thereby Geneva schools, but at the same time help local Geneva businesses.
Deborah Brown, who is the event chairwoman for Viva Geneva, said what she has seen so far has been a great effort for everyone from the community to come together and help the schools.
“Our goal is to raise about $16,000,” Brown said. “Hopefully, we will. I know it’s a lot to ask in this economy, but everything goes back to the school.”
Brown calls the event “a hometown fair supporting the community” and said businesses have been extremely supportive.
Geneva Chamber of Commerce President Jean Gaines called Viva Geneva “a wonderful partnership” for both businesses and the GAF.
“Our goal as well as the businesses goal is to show the local community that we have a wonderful shopping district,” Gaines said. “And hopefully they keep coming back again and again.”
Mike Haas, who co-owns of the Strawflower Shop, 210 W. State St., with his wife, Susan, said all of his children have gone through the Geneva schools and thinks this is a “very, very positive” event for both the schools and downtown.
“It’s a really great thing that the GAF decided to help the downtown area,” Haas said. “The downtown needs to be thriving. Right now, as you can see the for lease signs out there, it’s tough to thrive.”
Haas said he believes money flowing through local businesses will have a much better chance to stay in town than if the money were to go to a store such as Wal-Mart.
With the “million-dollar year” winding down for the Geneva Academic Foundation, they now rely on the inaugural Viva Geneva fundraiser downtown to pass that mark.
From 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7., residents who donate $50 to the foundation will receive $25 in “merchant bucks” for more than 100 participating Geneva businesses, shopping special coupons, entertainment, food and wine sampling and other events.
“This is our major fundraiser of the year,” said the foundation’s Chairman Tom Potkanowicz. “It’s a very critical part of the year and making our numbers. This is the keep-your-fingers-crossed million-dollar year.”
The group, which has been around for more than 20 years, has raised just more than $961,000 since its inception. They hope to break the barrier of $1 million by the end of 2009.
Potkanowicz said the event will be a nice opportunity to allow people to give to the foundation and thereby Geneva schools, but at the same time help local Geneva businesses.
Deborah Brown, who is the event chairwoman for Viva Geneva, said what she has seen so far has been a great effort for everyone from the community to come together and help the schools.
“Our goal is to raise about $16,000,” Brown said. “Hopefully, we will. I know it’s a lot to ask in this economy, but everything goes back to the school.”
Brown calls the event “a hometown fair supporting the community” and said businesses have been extremely supportive.
Geneva Chamber of Commerce President Jean Gaines called Viva Geneva “a wonderful partnership” for both businesses and the GAF.
“Our goal as well as the businesses goal is to show the local community that we have a wonderful shopping district,” Gaines said. “And hopefully they keep coming back again and again.”
Mike Haas, who co-owns of the Strawflower Shop, 210 W. State St., with his wife, Susan, said all of his children have gone through the Geneva schools and thinks this is a “very, very positive” event for both the schools and downtown.
“It’s a really great thing that the GAF decided to help the downtown area,” Haas said. “The downtown needs to be thriving. Right now, as you can see the for lease signs out there, it’s tough to thrive.”
Haas said he believes money flowing through local businesses will have a much better chance to stay in town than if the money were to go to a store such as Wal-Mart.
Deb Hilton, co-owner of Country Naturals, 316 Campbell St., said they will be having a salsa contest in front of their shop for Viva Geneva. All ingredients will be bought locally from the Geneva Green Market.
Hilton said she thought the event would be a fun way to pick up community spirit.
“I think it will generate some sales and business in the downtown area,” Hilton said. “I think it gives that hometown feeling. We want to develop more community spirit in the downtown and have the people shop local. We get a lot of customers say that ‘I’m shopping local,’ and that’s great.”
Brown said Hilton, Haas and other area merchants really have embraced Viva Geneva
“With this event, everything is coming back into the community,” Brown said. “The only thing we’re fighting is the economy.
“We have a lot riding on this.”
