Event FAQ

What is Ronald McDonald House Charities? Who does this event benefit?

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Delaware (“RMHC Greater Delaware” or “RMHCGDE”) provides essential services that remove barriers, strengthen families, and promote healing when children need healthcare.

RMHCGDE’s programs and support services include our 50-bedroom Ronald McDonald House (“the House”), two Ronald McDonald Family Rooms, and two hospitality cart programs.

The Ronald McDonald House provides a “home-away-from-home” for families of seriously ill children who need a place to stay while their child receives treatment at an area hospital. A family may stay at our House whether the child is hospitalized or receiving outpatient treatment.

In addition to providing a place to stay, the House offers nurturing and supportive environments where families can be together and find comfort. Each family that checks into the House has a private guest room and access to amenities such as laundry facilities, a fitness center, four different playrooms, multiple kitchens, a movie theater, and an outdoor playground. A hot meal is served every evening.

RMHCGDE also operates two Ronald McDonald Family Rooms in Delaware, located in the Women and Children’s Center at ChristianaCare’s Newark Campus and in Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware. Family Rooms provide a quiet, peaceful space where families can rest and unwind- located just steps away from neonatal and pediatric intensive care units. Each Family Room hosts a hospitality cart (“Cart with a Heart”), staffed by volunteers, that visits care units to offer complimentary snacks and activities during the wait for a loved one receiving care.

Learn more about RMHCGDE or make a donation.

What should I do before the event?

Find and break in your snazziest pair of shoes! Make sure we have your phone number and email to keep you up-to-date. Pre-register your credit card when our online auction site opens (details coming soon)

What are the benefits of pre-registering a credit card?

The early bidding bird gets the wine. You’ll save time at registration – leaving more time to eat, shop, and sample the finest wines. You can bid early.

How Do I Register to Bid?

A username and password is required to bid on the packages in the online auction. Check back for details when our online auction site opens!

Do you have to be at the event to bid?

Absolutely not, our philosophy is the more, the merrier! Anyone can register for the online auction and be part of the excitement.

What time is the event?

6-9:30 p.m. For those with General Admission tickets, doors open at 6:00. For those with VIP tickets, registration opens at 5:15 and Marketplace shopping begins at 5:30.

Parking?

Parking is free and abundant in front of the Chase Center.

What’s the schedule?

This year’s schedule is coming soon!

What should I wear?

Cocktail Chic.

What vendors are in the Marketplace?

From loungewear to luxury jewelry, our marketplace offers something for everyone. Shop ’till you drop – 20% of sales from our marketplace partners will support RMHCGDE. Check back to see what fabulous retailers will be at the event this year!

Does anything else happen in the Marketplace?

Absolutely! That’s not all we have in store! Test your luck with our “Key to the Closet” raffle or Wall of Wines. Bid on our fabulous auction items. Strut your stuff in your finest heels, and you just may be crowned “Best in Shoe.” Plus, savor culinary bites in between sips of sensational wines from around the world.

What is the Wall of Wine?

Purchase a bottle of wine in the Wall of Wine display in the Marketplace. There are only 100 bottles so be sure to grab one before they are gone. $25 EACH and bottles are valued at $25-$100.

What is the Key to Closet?

Win an SJP-worthy closet valued over $10,000 with items for the entire family.

Who are the Shoe Guys and Sole Sisters?

Our charming Shoe Guys and Sole SIsters play a hugely important role at Wine Women & Shoes, and we can’t imagine doing it without them. They are in charge of greeting and escorting guests to the marketplace, serving wine from one of the six sip-sational wine partners, presenting designer goodies on silver platters, selling raffle tickets for Key to the Closet, promoting auction lots, and—most importantly—making every guest feel special. They often play key roles before the event, as well, by spreading the word to friends and colleagues.

What is “Best in Shoe”?

Slip on your fabulous flats, bodacious boots, or sexy stilettos and be entered to win the coveted Best in Shoe contest! Finalists will participate in the Best in Shoe Fashion Show and strut their stuff on the runway to show off their look. Our shoe judges can’t wait to see what style you’ve chosen. May the best shoe win!

What’s the food situation?

During the Marketplace portion of the event, hors d’oeuvres will be served. A gourmet, 3-course meal will be served during the program portion of the event.

How does check-out work?

If you won an item or purchased something in the marketplace you’ll head to checkout, if not, no need to check out.