Imagine you are in a quaint, yet swanky boutique down town Chicago with dozens of delicious potential ensembles draped over your arm. Then imagine shopping for a cause, your retail therapy not only helping you but also helping others. Now all of a sudden you’re feeling very Mother Theresa as you make your way to try on a Robert Rodriquez dolman sweater dress in one of the boutique’s appropriately proportioned dressing rooms. It’s an amazing feeling right? Now add cocktails to that feeling, and you can almost imagine the ambrosial atmosphere of the fundraiser hosted by Sarah Wood, wife of Chicago Cubs pitcher, Kerry Wood, on November 10th.
Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves at the event
Sarah Wood’s vision was to host an evening of shopping, styling, and cocktails in support of the Wood Family Foundation, a foundation created by her and her husband. The boutique was introducing its most refreshed collections for fall and winter that evening and 10% of the proceeds from that night’s sales were to benefit the Wood Family Foundation. The Wood Family Foundation, from here on out referred to as the WFF, is a non-profit that works to improve the lives of children in and around Chicago by raising funds and awareness for children’s charities and the causes they support. The WFF acts as an advocate for children in the Chicago community, inspiring others to join them in their mission of giving children the resources they need to succeed.
Sarah and Kerry had been raising and donating money for various existing charities for about 15 years before they decided to form their very own charity. In June of 2011 they launched the WFF which is the umbrella under which such events like the Kerry Wood Strike Zone, a celebrity bowling fundraiser that raised over $400,000 this year, are held. Where do all of these proceeds go you ask? Well Mrs. Wood informed yours truly that she believes in the importance of transparency when it comes to the allocation of funds for any fundraiser. The WFF’s funds are supporting the building of a play room for Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital, it made possible a back to school drive in Englewood, and a partnership with NBC Chicago to host a coat and toy drive this December. The WFF will also be building a high school baseball stadium by Lane Tech High School, near Wrigley Field, so that inner city children will not be burdened with the arduous commute all the way to the suburbs for baseball practice. For more information on the WFF please visit www.woodfamilyfoundation.org.
Such a great turnout for the event
Lucky for you, the boutique I had you imagining so vividly before is not fictional, but pure 24 karat fact, and is none other than the Intermix boutique at 841 West Armitage in Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood. Intermix, birthed and established in 1993 by Mr. Haro and Mr. Khajak Keledjian in New York, has since become quite contagious and has spread to metropolitan areas like Chicago, Los Angeles, and Miami. The lovely Mrs. Wood could not have chosen a more flattering venue for her fundraising event. Intermix is like that effortlessly flawless girl in high school you secretly wished you were friends with; with the covetable perfect amount of class, edge, and style. It is a very minimalist, modern store with white walls, hard wood floors, and track lighting that seem to provide spot lights by which to shop under. Intermix differentiates itself from other boutiques through its concept of mixing brands and genres in ways that are unusual. It encourages the merging of high end designers with ready to wear and denim, creating an eclectic and custom style for its patrons. The boutique houses designers from Adrienne Landau to Zack Posen. Other designers that can be found at Intermix include Chloe, Fendi, Rag and Bone, Rachel Zoe, Valentino, and many more designers and variety than should even be allowed in such a petite store.
Intermix, such a darling place
One of the many gorgeous dresses Intermix has to offer
Not surprisingly, the evening was a complete success. The silent auction provided an opportunity to bid on treasures like a jersey, photograph, and baseball set autographed by Mr. Kerry Wood himself, cocktails at Underground nightclub, 2 tickets to the Joffrey Ballet, and an Intermix gift card. Of course the auction had more items to bid on, but I wouldn’t dream of making anyone more penitent for not being in attendance than they already should be. The goal that Intermix and Sarah had for the 10% proceeds from the sales of that night was eclipsed by the actual amount of funds raised for the WFF. This again is not all together shocking, given the amazing support and turnout that Mrs. Wood received as well as the abundance of $235 thermal tees, $1,725 rabbit fur bomber jackets, $200 jeans and other not-so-inexpensive apparel available for purchase. “It’s for the kids, it’s for the kids!” one woman exclaimed as she snatched up an adorable pair of Brian Atwood boots. For the kids indeed! The combination of individuals with good hearts, healthy bank accounts, and an even healthier cocktail had much to do with raising an impressive amount of money for Chicago’s youth.
Purchasing for a cause
Kudos to the absolute genius who decided white wine and colorless cocktails were most conducive to the safety of thousand dollar merchandise. And kudos to Sarah Wood for helping orchestrate such an amazing event, supporting a good cause in the most fabulous way she knew how.
The lovely Sarah and me at the event
