DRESS FOR SUCCESS PALM BEACHES INC

Our goal is to reach as many women as possible who need our services in Palm Beach and the surrounding Counties, and there are hundreds - if not thousands - more who could benefit from the Dress for Success programs.
We aim to empower women because by doing so, we empower families and strengthen our community. Our program promotes job retention among a vulnerable subset of the population.

In order to achieve this mission, we developed a truly comprehensive program that positions us to make an impact at every step along the client's journey. From the interview suiting and preparation stage all the way through securing employment (when she comes back for a weeks' worth of clothes) and continued education/career workshop in addition to networking and volunteering opportunities. With two suiting programs (Interview and Suiting) and two professional development programs (Road to Success and Next Step), this strategy allows us to potentially be a long-term source of support, for every woman who walks through our doors.

With a hands-on Board of Directors and dozens of dedicated volunteers, Dress for Success Palm Beaches has a solid volunteer workforce. We currently work with over 70 local nonprofit and social service agencies on a regular basis and are hoping to increase that number every year as we have for the past three.

As an organization founded and operated one-hundred percent by these volunteers for our first four years, and through donations of foundations, individuals and corporations, the Board of Directors are responsible for raising the funds needed to pay for overhead in order to keep the doors open. Right now, the biggest challenge we face is always raising funds to cover overhead, as many donors insist their money is used only for programs. However, our Suiting Program is inextricably linked with our overhead costs. If we cannot keep the doors open, lights on, and the staff of 2 (paid staff = proficiency and productivity!) and internet paid, then we cannot exist.

We were founded and run for the first four years on a 100% volunteer basis, which speaks volumes about the passion and level of commitment of all involved. We opened our doors in 2010, and served 79 women and raised $30,500. We were able to help over 500 local women in 2018. We have served over 5,000 women since opening our doors in 2010.

In addition, in 2011 we added a job-readiness program sponsored by Walmart. When that funding ended in 2014, we designed and self-funded our own program, "New Directions," until The Jim Moran Foundation stepped in 2015 with a grant. Now called "Road to Success" we are proud to say that over 300 women have completed this course, with an amazing 60% finding employment either prior to, or within 60 days of course completion.

Based on the success of our New Directions program, and seeing a need for something similar directed towards a younger age group, we designed "Next Step" for women ages 18-24. This course is held on the campus of Palm Beach State College, which also provides great exposure to the campus. We have almost the exact same rates of success with this age group, which we think is phenomenal.

The cornerstone upon which Dress for Success was founded will always be the career-appropriate attire and network of support. However, we believe the education / job-readiness courses that have evolved from a very apparent necessity are now an intrinsic and vital part of who we are and what we do. When women come to us for clothing, it is the perfect venue in which we can assess their need for one of our programs.

We are delighted with the progress we've made thus far, and look forward to continually expanding our reach and serving more women every year.