Alcohol Fueled Geneseo Football Fundraiser Idea Raises Only Questions

GENESEO — The Geneseo Central High School Football Team has been planning a fundraiser in partnership with Deer Run Winery, however much of the necessary paperwork has not yet been submitted, leaving the town board with more questions than answers.

The fundraiser was planned to be held on Aug. 18 at Long Point Park, which does not allow the sale of alcoholic beverages without approval from the town board at least one month in advance. When the initial inquiry was made to the town about the use of the park, there was no mention of alcohol sales at the event.

In June, Deer Run Winery submitted a request for a temporary permit for the sale of alcohol at the park, in partnership with the football team’s fundraiser. The request from Deer Run raised numerous question about liability insurance, the security of the alcohol sales, and what the event will actually consist of.

According to Council Member Andrea Bailey, who spoke with the athletic director at Geneseo Central High School, the fundraiser has been led entirely by members of the football team, and the sports boosters has had no involvement. Bailey informed the athletic director that the football team would need to submit an application to use Long Point Park for this event before the town board met on Thursday, July 12. Currently, the town has not received an application from anyone at the school.

“I think we have done our due diligence, reaching out to the individuals who originally approached the town to inquire about utilizing the park for this event,” said Bailey during the board meeting. “I have had multiple conversations with individuals at the school, and they have had multiple conversations with the individuals who are in charge of [the fundraiser].”

The town board did state that they would have liked to support Deer Run’s efforts, however due to the lack of documentation from the football team, members of the town board did not feel comfortable approving the sale of alcohol at a school event held on town property.

Additional concerns have also been raised by community members outside of the town board regarding the sale of alcohol in partnership with the football team after an incident involving the use and distribution OxyContin resulted in Geneseo Central cancelling their football season last year.