Dress for Success Celebrity Ambassador, Award-winning Actress/Comedienne Niecy Nash, celebrated the grand opening of the new West Coast regional office of Dress for Success Worldwide yesterday in Hollywood.
Niecy Nash and Joi Gordon at the ribbon cutting celebration for the new office
Dress for Success is an international not-for-profit organization that promotes the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. Since starting operations in 1997, Dress for Success has expanded to more than 100 cities in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, the U.K., and the West Indies. To date, Dress for Success has helped more than 500,000 women work towards self-sufficiency.
Niecy Nash attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new office, where she presented Joi Gordon, CEO of Dress for Success Worldwide, with a red business suit donated from her personal wardrobe. “This is truly a power suit, it’s red and any woman wearing it will walk into an interview or workplace situation feeling confident and diva-fied,” said Nash.
“With the launch of Dress for Success Worldwide – West, we will be able to serve more women and positively influence not only them, but their children as well,” said Ms. Gordon. “The economy has devastated so many families across the country, so we are eager to offer our career development services to disadvantaged women in Los Angeles.”
Niecy Nash presents Dress for Success Worldwide CEO Joi Gordon with a red business suit as a donation to the organization
Dress for Success has more than 100 affiliates in seven countries and has undergone tremendous growth in the past year. As a regional center, Dress for Success Worldwide – West will serve as a model program, developing and sharing best practices, and as a regional hub where affiliates can gather for training and other activities.
“Dress for Success has added eight new affiliates in just the last few months,” Ms. Gordon noted. “This new office will enable Dress for Success Worldwide to provide additional support to our affiliates on the West Coast. Our mission is even more crucial in this economy, and we need to ensure our affiliates have the resources and tools to reach all of the women who need our services.”
Dress for Success Worldwide – West will serve low-income women in Los Angeles County by providing services to help them gain employment and become self-sufficient. The office will also offer support and resources to the organization’s more than 20 local affiliates on the West Coast. Dress for Success anticipates serving over 2,500 women next year in Los Angeles.
“Dress for Success gave me hope when I believed there was none,” said LaTanya Darton, the first woman served by Dress for Success Worldwide – West. “I am very happy to be working again, and I owe it all to Dress for Success.”
Dress for Success is looking for volunteers and donors to support the organization in Los Angeles. Ways to get involved include donating career-appropriate apparel, making a monetary contribution, volunteering as a personal shopper, Career Center counselor or speaker, hosting an event and many more opportunities. Interested individuals and corporations can get more information at www.dressforsuccess.org/worldwidewest
See the related Dress for Success article on Emmys.com
