Ravinia 2022, Issue 3

than $100,000 annually to Ravinia’s Sustaining Fund. Although the shop was only open during the summer, Women’s Board volunteers worked year-round attend- ing gift shows to find new and excit- ing inventory for concertgoers. Sweat- shirts remained a big seller on those nights when the wind shifted and brought cool lake breezes to shivering attendees. In 1992, the shop sold 5,124 sweatshirts—including more than 100 to Ravinia Executive Director Zarin Mehta, who was concerned about the health of the CSO musicians during a chilly afternoon rehearsal. Both sales and volunteerism con- tinued to increase in the early 2000s, along with the desire to contribute to Ravinia’s growing education and community engagement programs. When Ravinia offered the opportunity to open a second, walk-in store on the ground floor of a new restaurant building, Women’s Board members rose to the task of assisting in its planning, design, and construction supervision. The larger Ravinia Gifts opened on June 6, 2007, offering innovative product lines and a jewelry showcase, but above all accommodat- ing crowds of new visitors. When Ravinia refreshed and expanded the Dining Pavilion in 2018, the Women’s Board likewise improved The Festival Shop to broaden the se- lection of Ravinia apparel, gift items, and picnic gear available to concert- goers and online shoppers. From humble beginnings in 1972 with a recycled ticket booth through a half-century of extraordinary ded- ication by volunteers, the Women’s Board has built a retail operation that has raised more than $16.5 million to support the festival and its year-round programs. Today the walk-in Festival Shop is glowing up next to Lawn Bar in the Dining Pavilion, and the new- est products can also be browsed at the walk-up Martin Theatre shop windows facing the Pavilion concert stage. No matter the site, purchases help the Women’s Board continue to support Ravinia and its education initiatives—and pave the way for even more creative opportunities in the future. —Karen Ettelson, Co-chair, Ravinia Women’s Board Festival Shop and Archives Councils Left: Women’s Board members introduce the three winners of the inaugural contest to design Ravinia posters to be sold at the Friendship Booth. Right: Susan Spears applauds the ribbon cutting at the Martin Theatre shop with Pat Sikorovsky and Sandy Crown, opened at the height of Ravinia’s 1985 season. Above: The shop in the Dining Pavilion, featuring an extended collection of Ravinia- branded products, opened in 2007. RAVINIA.ORG • RAVINIA MAGAZINE 91