Even with the glut of home-based reality television shows, there is no experience quite like walking through a house that is just as much a work of art as it is a home. And if one can have that experience while helping local charities, all the better.

The Junior Woman's Club, whose mission is to raise money for local charities in the support of women's issues, first initiated the house tour 13 years ago. The inaugural event was such a success that the club has since made this tour its primary source of fundraising.

According to Bernadette Walsh, president of the club, all of the proceeds from the event will go directly to 25 different charities within a 19-mile radius of the village.

"The house tour has been an overwhelming success for us," said Walsh, also a Village Council candidate. "In years past, we have been able to give as much as $3,000 to each charity."

Over the last five years, the Juniors have donated over $250,000 to charities.

In years past, the house tour has drawn anywhere from 1,200 to 1,500 people. This year, however, Walsh and the Juniors are hoping for a bigger turnout. While most choose the day of the event to buy their tickets, the club's focus this year is on advance ticket sales. Besides sending out 6,500 invitations, the club has been canvasing town with fliers about the event, and is hoping that the increased awareness will result in more early response.

"We do have some sponsors to help cover our costs, but all of the ticket proceeds go to the charities, so we're really going to push [advanced sales]," she said. "We're already halfway to our advanced ticket sales goal.

The specifics of the tour vary from year to year. This time around the tour will consist of five area homes, including four in Ridgewood. The houses vary in size and style, from a still-new, recently constructed mansion to an old, refurbished smaller home.

While the tour does offer some larger, more physically impressive houses, Walsh thinks the tour's success lies in the personal touches of the homeowners and not in the square footage of their homes.

"We try to get a range of houses so it isn't all about size," Walsh said. "We want people to see these homes and get ideas, give them a chance to envision what their house could look like. These houses are decorated so well, people won't believe it."

The tour, which usual takes a full day to complete, has partnered with some local eateries to provide the option for food while viewing the houses. It's Greek to Me, Trattoria Fratelli, Pizza Fusion, Daily Treat and Village Green will be offering fixed-price meal options to participants of the tour. "We used to offer boxed lunches, but I think this is better," Walsh said. "This is a social event, after all."

The hour tour will be held May 13, running from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tickets are $40 and can be purchased in advance at Town and Country Pharmacy, Mango Jam, Karma Organic Spa and Goffle Brook Farm and the day of at the Woman's Clubhouse at 215 West Ridgewood Ave.