Dress for Success Denver

Impact Statement

Top Five Goals:

I. Help women secure employment by providing professional suiting.

II. Increase awareness level in the greater Denver community, publicize its good work and communicate to all in need the resources that DFS has available to them.

III. Secure a major sponsor(s) whose funding will sustain the program and insure growth of services to the community.

IV. Assure that the DFS staff, volunteers, and board members work in concert to accomplish the goal of helping as many needy women as possible.

V. Support women in the Professional Women’s Group, to increase their skill development and career advancement.

Needs Statement

I. Monetary Donations
$25.00 Accessorize an outfit
$50.00 Suit- small or average size
$75.00 Suit- medium to large size
$100.00 Plus size suit
$150.00 Sponsor a PWG member
$200.00 Suit, sponsor a PWG member
$250.00 Suit, sponsor and enroll a PWG member in career center

II. Professional Clothing Donations

III. Volunteers - Professional Shoppers, Fundraising, etc.

IV. Corporate Sponsorships

V. Visibility in the Community

VI Board Member Development

Background Statement

In 2005, Kathy Bacon decided that Denver needed to have a Dress for Success Denver. She applied to re-open the affiliate in 2005. In February 2006 she was awarded the affiliate. From there a Board of Directors was founded, and a space off of Colfax and Ogden was home. Women’s suits were donated from several generous women in the community. Kathy found volunteers to launch the program and get the women suited and on their way to job interviews.

In the first year alone 780 women were suited with 65 returning because they had secured employment. Dress for Success now has a Professional Women’s Group with 12 members that meet on a monthly basis. Our goal is to have 30 members by the end of 2008. The PWG measures our success.

Executive Director Statement

Dress for Success Denver resolves the “Catch-22” dilemma that confronts disadvantaged women trying to enter the workforce: without a job, how can you afford a suit? Without a suit, how can you get a job?

Shortly after Dress for Success was founded, we became well-known for providing suits to disadvantaged women returning to or entering the workforce. Our mission has expanded; the suiting program remains a crucial part of our work and a vital first-step in a woman’s journey toward self-sufficiency. Each Dress for Success client receives one suit when she has a job interview and additional apparel when she becomes employed.

Dress for Success Denver provides more than just a suit. We provide accessories such as scarves, jewelry or other interview-appropriate items. Our goal is for each woman to leave Dress for Success Denver with a complete outfit that will help her secure employment.

After a client acquires employment she can return to Dress for Success Denver for additional employment attire. At that time we attempt to provide her with enough additional apparel to mix and match for a week’s worth of outfits.

Women come to Dress for Success Denver by referral from 93 non-profit agencies. Each client works one-on-one with a highly trained volunteer Personal Shopper. These volunteers’ help our client’s select professional attire and also provide coaching and support as the women prepare for upcoming interviews.

Every woman who comes to Dress for Success Denver is treated with dignity and respect and can walk through our doors feeling confident and welcome. We focus on helping each woman prepare for the journey ahead of her. Our concern is not where our clients have been but rather where they are going.

Board Chair/President Statement

Since May, 2008 Loretta Robinson has served as the Board Chair for Dress for Success Denver.

Loretta quotes: Each morning I wake up thinking about how I can make a difference in the world we live in. I am incredibly blessed and fortunate to have found an organization that I can contribute, which combines my commitment to public service, along with my passion for helping women build self confidence and by having professional clothing to seek and acquire the right job to help support themselves and their families.

I am thankful for the board members, the volunteers, the funders and the anonymous patrons of whom I like to call the "Angels of Dress for Success Denver". I appreciate their generosity, commitment and hard work!

As we celebrate our successes, I will continually work to improve the quality of life for each woman that walk through the doors of Dress for Success Denver. As I look back on 2007 it is clear that the dream is continually becoming a reality. Dress for Success Denver celebrated the grand opening of our new Boutique in September of 2008.

As I look forward to 2009, my vision is clear of the continued growth and ever-growing opportunities for the women in our Community.

Welcome to Cast the Vision. At Dress For Success it is our mission to serve the women of our community. We may provide them with a suit for a job interview but they leave the office with much more than just a bag. Women leave our office with a Vision: the Vision of themselves as something that they have never seen or maybe lost.

Our clients have the Vision, but I dare to ask: “Do we?” Dress for Success must continue to serve. We are supporting the women who will work in our offices, who will work in our government, and who are raising the children who will run our country.

WE ARE CHANGING LIVES!!

This is our mission and these are our stories.

Rondalyn came to our boutique last week. She got a job and received a week’s worth of separates for the position. As she left she handed Dara, her personal shopper a card with a beautiful leaf pressed into it. It read, “Season’s change- but God’s love stays the same forever. Dress for Success thank you for showing God’s love. I can’t wait to wear my new clothes! Thank you!”

Rondalyn left with a backpack and a Vision. She received the final piece to complete her puzzle toward success. Rondalyn will join the PWG this month.