ROSCOE VILLAGE — If ever there was a good reason to spend money, Shop for Schools would be it.
On Thursday, some 16 businesses along Roscoe Street will give back 20 percent of their pretax sales to neighborhood schools.
"This is year five for Shop for Schools and it's such a win-win event for the schools and the businesses," said Mary Markarian, president of the Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce. "With school budgets being slashed significantly in 2013, we anticipate a good turnout."
Fourteen schools will benefit from the event, which runs from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. When making a purchase, customers will be asked which school they support and funds will be earmarked for their choice.
The three schools with the most supporters will receive an additional donation of $1,000, $500 or $250 from the chamber of commerce.
In past years, Shop for Schools has raised as much as $10,000, according to Markarian.
The participating schools are: Agazziz, Alphonsus Academy & Center for the Arts, Audubon, Bell, Burley, Coonley, Hamilton, Hawthorne, Jahn, Lane Tech, St. Andrew, St. Benedict, St. Clement and St. Luke.
The participating shops are: A Pied, Baby Take a Bow, Cinnamon Boutique, City Olive, Crush, D Spa and Pet Boutique, Denim Lounge, Designs by Guzzardos, Fixture, Glam to Go, Hubba-Hubba, Kickin', Little Threads, Meringue, Roscoe Village Bikes and Village Paperie & Gifts.
