Wayside House 2011 Spring Boutique
Wayside House 2011 Spring Boutique Fundraiser Welcomes Record Numbers of Shoppers
An eagerly awaited fundraiser of the Delray Beach social season, the Wayside House Spring Boutique was held from Tuesday, March 8, through Thursday, March 10, 2011, at Downtown Delray Beach’s historic Colony Hotel. This year’s event, which kicked off with a preview reception on Monday evening, March 7, drew a record number of shoppers over the course of the three days.
“This event has grown in leaps and bounds,” said Barbara Backer, event co-chair and Wayside House Board of Directors First Vice-President. “The total amount of money raised surpassed all our expectations and we couldn’t be more delighted. Benefiting the clients and programs of Wayside House is what motivates us. This year we featured more vendors than ever before, offering an eclectic selection of merchandise that appealed to even the most discriminating fashionista.”
Virtually transforming most of the Colony Hotel’s downstairs space into a shopper’s paradise, the 2011 Spring Boutique showcased 36 booths that represented 16 different states from across the country. The collection ran the gamut from authentic Nicaraguan crocodile purses, to unique cashmere wraps, to fabulous estate and contemporary jewelry to Channel-inspired suits. Even male shoppers had much to choose from, with lines of clothing and accessories that ranged from Palm Beach classic attire to island casual hats, belts, ties, shirts and shorts.
This year’s fabulous raffle prize – two first-class, round-trip airline tickets to anywhere in the continental United States combined with a $1,000 gift certificate to the Ritz Carlton chain of hotels – created a buzz of interest and flurry of ticket sales. A percentage of the vendors’ profits, as well as proceeds from preview party ticket sales and raffle ticket sales went directly to support Wayside House programs and clients.
“For more than 20 years, the Spring Boutique has been a key fundraiser for Wayside House. This has been our best year ever,” said Pat McElroy, event co-chair and a member of the Wayside House Board of Directors. “With more vendors than ever before, we have reached a new level of excellence. None of this would have been possible without the help we received from the Colony Hotel, as well as our event sponsors, and without the voluntary efforts of our fabulous Spring Boutique Committee. Mounting a three-day boutique is a complex and monumental task, but with support from the 25 members of our committee, it became a labor of love.”
Wayside House 2011 Spring Boutique and Preview Party Photo Album
(Photography by Jim Greene)