Riverfest Raises More Than $86,000 For Less Fortunate Children

Sign up for the Canton-Sixes Patch newsletter!

---

More than $86,000 was raised during this year’s Riverfest Arts and Crafts Festival.

Service League of Cherokee County President Bonnie Spears accepted a check on behalf of the Service League from the 2015 Riverfest Committee in the amount of $86,288.87 at the organization’s monthly meeting held Nov. 10.

The check was presented by Riverfest Committee Chairwoman Barbara Jacoby.

“The Service League of Cherokee County and its Riverfest Committee are so grateful for our community’s generosity,” Jacoby said. “Sponsors, exhibitors and volunteers worked together to overcome the challenges and guests braved the rain to help us raise funds for our community’s children in need. Every dollar donated and every hour volunteered helps makes a difference in the life of a child.”

Riverfest is the cornerstone of the Service League’s many fundraising endeavors, with all proceeds benefiting the less fortunate children of Cherokee County.

The funds raised during this event will be used throughout the upcoming year to provide assistance with everything from health care and eyeglasses for children in need to rent and utilities for their families.

The 31st annual Riverfest Arts and Crafts Festival was held during the last weekend in September at Boling Park in Canton. The juried show, featuring more than 200 exhibitors, concessionaires, entertainers and activities for children, showcased some of the southeast’s finest arts, crafts, live performances and festival fare.

For more than 30 years on the last weekend of September, the festival has signaled the arrival of fall and has become a favorite tradition of many north-metro Georgia families.

Vendor applications for Riverfest 2016 are now available on the League’s website, www.serviceleague.net.

Established in 1935, the Service League of Cherokee County is a volunteer group of 100 women who work year-round, collectively volunteering more than 10,000 hours per year to raise funds for local needy children.

Funds raised during this event and other fundraising events sponsored by the League, such as the annual Run for the Children Reindeer Run 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run and the Annual Ball and Dancing for the Children Celebrity Dance Challenge, provide necessities such as food, clothing, dental care, eyeglasses, medical care, scholarships and much more.

To find out more about the work of the League, visit www.serviceleague.net. For inquiries regarding the 2016 Riverfest Arts and Crafts Festival, contact Kim Fowler, chairwoman of the 2016 Riverfest at riverfestchair@gmail.com.

---

Photo: Bonnie Spears of Canton (shown on the left holding the check), current president of the Service League of Cherokee County, accepted a check in the amount of $86,288.87, which was presented by Riverfest Committee Chairwoman Barbara Jacoby. Credit: Service League of Cherokee County