Heart And Sole

Wine, women, shoes … and sports? Put them all together for a good cause—cancer research—and you’ve got the makings for a fabulous one-of-a-kind event featuring fashion show, wine tasting and the infamous (and really cute) Shoe Guys.

Lorena Diaz of Chicago Med will emcee the inaugural “Wine Women & Shoes” fundraiser, benefitting Scoreboard Charities, beginning at 6 p.m. on Friday, September 22 at The Drake Oak Brook. With key sponsors including Neiman Marcus Oakbrook presenting a fall fashion trend show, Kendra Scott putting together luxe swag bags each valued at more than $250, and makeup company Chantecaille donating $75 full-size products and $150 facial gift certificate cards, fashion-forward shoe and wine aficionados won’t be disappointed.

Sarah Glitto and Kelly Lim, both of Hinsdale, are co-chairs for the event.

“Women that go to the events in the area are philanthropic and generous,” says Glitto. “We are trading sports for shoes; it’s a good way to get an organization up and running.”

Scoreboard Charities began as a nonprofit organization to honor those who lost a battle with cancer, and to support cancer research and help children living with cancer. Hinsdale resident and founder and president of Scoreboard Charities, Rick Heinz, is also a lifelong sports memorabilia collector. When his mother passed away from cancer, he channeled his affinity for sports collecting to helping others overcome their battles with cancer. Heinz began donating sports memorabilia from his extensive collection to charities to sell with proceeds benefiting nonprofit organizations.

Then, in 2016, Scoreboard Charities was born with a mission to win the game against cancer.

For the foundation’s inaugural event, Scoreboard Charities is setting aside its sports-history roots and introducing “Wine Women & Shoes” to Chicago’s Western Suburbs. As a wine and shoe pairing charity fundraiser, “Wine Women & Shoes” events have helped nonprofit organizations across the country raise more than $50 million to date.

Proceeds of this event will benefit two organizations selected by Scoreboard Charities: The Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University (to fund a specific research trial), and Camp One Step (which organizes programs around the country where pediatric cancer patients can go to a camp and be kids).

The evening begins appropriately with, what else, wine and shopping.

“Guests will check in, stop by the Step and Repeat for a photo, get a glass of wine, and spend the first part of the evening in our shopping boutique and wine tasting area,” says Glitto. In addition to Neiman Marcus and Kendra Scott, local retailers include House of Wix, Nora Fleming, Char Crews and Vintage Charm—with a portion of all sales benefitting Scoreboard Charities. “We’ll also have several vintners on hand—with each offering two to three different wines for tasting—as well as hors d’oeuvres,” she adds.

During this segment of the evening, fashion illustrator Christine Steiner will be sketching portraits of guests. A spirited Key to the Closet raffle will see one lucky winner take all for a $10,000 dream closet. Live and silent auctions will include trips to Napa, Hawaii, and Michigan; rounds of golf at top area country clubs; White Sox Suite and 20 tickets with Hall of Famer Rod Kiddle; Chicago date nights; and signed sports memorabilia.

As a special treat, the charismatic Shoe Guys™ will be greeting and schmoozing with guests throughout the night. Shoe Guys are volunteers from all walks of life: flirty firemen, affable architects and accountants, dashing dentists, feisty financiers and good old regular fathers, brothers and friends who want to contribute to the night’s success. They’ll present designer goodies on silver platters, sell raffle tickets, promote auction lots, and—most importantly—make every woman feel special.

The grand finale of the evening will be a Fashion Week-caliber runway fashion show curated by Neiman Marcus Oakbrook and emceed by Chicago Med’s Lorena Diaz. In addition to her television role, Diaz is a fixture on the Chicago comedy scene.

Be prepared for laughs, a Best in Shoe award, and the Shoe Guys pouring sparkling wine for VIPs. Tickets are on sale now for just $100, which includes a trendy Kendra Scott swag bag filled with goodies valued at more than $250. What are you waiting for?

For tickets, visit scoreboardcharities.ejoinme.org/wws.