Winter Wonderwalk Showcases CFT Vendors, Ft. Sheridan Home

The shopping and home viewing highlights of Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart's 22nd annual Winter Wonderwalk include a proud new Boutique partnership with Chicago Fair Trade and a turn-of-the-century home in Ft. Sheridan's historic community as one of the event's Housewalk stops. This year's benefit takes place Thursday, Nov. 30, and Friday. Dec. 1.

Chicago Fair Trade, the largest fair trade coalition in the U.S., seeks to combat poverty by providing opportunity for economically disadvantaged producers, cultivating transparent trade partnerships, ensuring safe working conditions and the rights of women and children, and focusing on environmental sustainability through all stages of production.

Several CFT vendors will have booths at this year's Boutique offering unique gift items from countries such as Columbia, Turkey, Peru, Bali, India and Mexico - with proceeds supporting women and families from those regions. Products will include jewelry, bags, backpacks, tabletop pieces, towels, blankets, clothing, decorative arts and other unique pieces. For a list of participating CFT vendors, visit: https://one.bidpal.net/winterwonderwalk/custom/custom4.

"Chicago Fair Trade is very excited about working with Woodlands Academy to introduce these vendors and their causes to North Shore shoppers," said Executive Director Katherine Bissell Cordova. "By supporting these vendors, people are helping to combat poverty, ensure safe working conditions as well as the rights of women and children, and promote environmental sustainability. What a wonderful Christmas message," she added.

Winter Wonderwalk 2017 kicks off with a Boutique preview party - It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas - Thursday, Nov. 30, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Gloria Dei Center on the Woodlands Academy campus, 760 E. Westleigh Road in Lake Forest. This holiday-themed party includes wine, beer and passed appetizers plus music from Woodland's Kaleidoscope choir and an opportunity to shop. You can get an even earlier start to your shopping at the Boutique from 2 to 5 p.m. Housewalk tickets also will be available for purchase or pick up.

The Housewalk tours and more Boutique shopping take place Friday, Dec. 1.

In addition to the Ft. Sheridan home, which showcases Richardsonian revival design along with its rich history, two magnificent Lake Forest homes also are featured. One is a graceful and classic brick Georgian just steps from Lake Michigan, while the other is a picturesque early 20th century Howard Van Doren Shaw masterpiece on three acres. Interior viewing of all three homes will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Dec. 1 Boutique shopping hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Gloria Dei Center. In all, More than 40 vendors from Lake Forest to Chicago and beyond will be offering a wide variety of items that won't be found in traditional stores.

Winter Wonderwalk is one of the major fundraising events supported annually by the Woodlands Academy Parent Association, Alumnae Parents Connection and local alumnae. Proceeds benefit all students of Woodlands Academy, an independent Catholic day-and-boarding, college-preparatory school for young women of all faiths grades nine through 12.

Tickets are required for admission to both the Housewalk and Boutique events, with reduced Early Bird prices in effect through Nov. 27.

.

For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit https://one.bidpal.net/winterwonderwalk/welcome. You also may contact Kathy Fivelson at kfivelson@woodlandsacademy.org or by calling 847-234-4300, ext. 226. Follow us on Winter Wonderwalk Facebook.

###

Founded in 1858, Woodlands Academy is an independent Catholic college preparatory day and boarding high school for young women. It's part of a worldwide network of Sacred Heart Schools that spans the United States and 40 other countries. A nonprofit, Woodlands Academy's identity is rooted in Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat's desire to inspire young hearts and minds to excel, to lead lives of integrity and to serve. For more information about Woodlands Academy, please visit www.woodlandsacademy.org