Dress for Success Oregon Celebrates with 484 Supporters

Portland, April 17, 2015. At the Portland Art Museum ‘s Kridel Ballroom, 484 generous attendees raised over $297,000 for Dress for Success Oregon. The nonprofit is a workforce development organization that helps low income women become financially independent by providing job preparation and job retention programs as well as professional clothing. Anna Canzano of KATU was emcee for the evening which included the stories of four Dress for Success Oregon clients who have achieved professional and personal success. Dress for Success Oregon not only helps women get jobs but also helps them build careers and the self-confidence needed to succeed, helping them transition off of government assistance to become financially independent, self-sufficient citizens that can support their families.

From Dress for Success:

Please visit our website to learn more, oregon.dressforsuccess.org.

Our Vision

Our vision is a world where women do not live in poverty. We strive for a world where all women are financially independent, are treated with dignity and respect and are directly impacting their lives and those of their families. We aspire to a world that fully harnesses the power of women and recognizes their role in economic sustainability.

Our Purpose

“we are about much more than simply a new outfit”

Our purpose is to offer long-lasting solutions that enable women to break the cycle of poverty. Dress for Success is part of a global movement for change, empowering women to obtain safer and better futures.

We provide each client with professional attire to secure employment, but we are about much more than simply a new outfit. Besides physically equipping the client with apparel and accessories, our programs furnish her with a confidence that she carries forever and the knowledge that she can actively define her life, the direction she takes and what success means to her.

Our Beliefs

Every woman has the right to realize her full potential and achieve financial independence in a more egalitarian world. We believe that with the proper education, tools and action this world is possible.

Poverty often affects women the most, and its effects on them and their families can be long-lasting. Therefore, addressing women’s needs is central to improving the quality of life for not only that woman but also her family, future generations and her community. In fact, recognizing the significant role of women in economic development is the smart thing to do, as well as being socially and morally right.

We believe that achieving gender equality is imperative to developing a sustainable and just world for all, which is possible by acknowledging the crucial role that women play in the world economy.

We believe that by building up a woman’s agency and knowledge, better synergies between gender equality and economic sustainability are realized, enabling her to generate a long-term impact in both her private and public life.