Portland, OR. 280 people attended Dress for Success Oregon’s (DFSO) sixth-annual Empowerment Breakfast on October 3rd and helped raise over $65,000. The event at The Sentinel Hotel drew together business, civic, and social leaders supporting each other across racial, socioeconomic, and gender lines in the workplace. Sarah Redgrave, Ana Matos, Cara Rothe, Executive Director Shari Dunn, and Dr. Melody Rose were on the event panel. (Photo credit, Images by Brant)
Executive Director Shari Dunn looks on as DFSO Client, Cara Rothe, delivers her speech about her struggle and triumph.
Panelists Sarah Redgrave, Ana Matos, Cara Rothe, and Dr. Melody Rose discuss ways to help women overcome barriers in the workplace.
Dress for Success Oregon’s impact helps low-income women gain employment, wage progression, and economic independence. The event featured keynote speaker, Dr. Melody Rose, President of Marylhurst University, founder of the Center for Women’s Leadership, and a nationally recognized scholar and women and politics. All speakers, along with Vice President of Total Rewards and Family Support for KinderCare Education, Sarah Redgrave, participated in a panel discussion about how employers can help women overcome barriers to success in the workplace.
Volunteer Manager Lindsey Norlander presents Margo Passadore, Karen Morgan, and Becky Schindele with the Dress for Success Oregon Volunteer Award.
The Empowerment Breakfast audience listens to panelists Sarah Redgrave, Ana Matos, Dr. Melody Rose, and Shari Dunn.
From Dress for Success Oregon:
Dress for Success Oregon’s mission is to empower women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and the development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.
Dress for Success Oregon is the only workforce development organization in the state of Oregon that focuses exclusively on women and work. We are distinctive for helping women overcome barriers to employment, prepare for and keep their jobs, and advance in their careers toward the ultimate goal of self-sufficiency and economic equality.
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.
Wells Fargo table, Wardrobe Sponsor.
Shawn DuBurg of Union Bank, one of the Suit Sponsors, with Cherrie Scheinberg and Dr. Sam Scheinberg.
Dress for Success Oregon clients pose with new Executive Director, Shari Dunn. From left: Ana Matos, Cynthia Harris, Shari Dunn, Ann Valdez, and Marie Alarcon.
Emcee Anna Canzano, Greg Ness from The Standard, Presenting Sponsor, and DFSO volunteer Terry Ness help with the raffle drawing.
Dress for Success Oregon co-founder Karen Fishel and DFSO co-founder and Previous Executive Director, Barb Attridge with DFSO volunteer, Bonnie Schimschock.
DFSO Board of Directors President, Lisa Lucas and Sharon Drennan
Lucy Howard and Gwyneth Gamble Booth enjoying the festivities.
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.
NONPROFIT BENEFIT TICKET GIVEAWAYS!
Sign up for our free weekly highlights for the chance to win two tickets terrific nonprofit events! If you "like" us on facebook, or sign up for our weekly news highlights, you'll be entered to win! Sign up today!
Look for another ticket giveaway soon! Are you a nonprofit looking to bolster your publicity with facebook and tweets? Email us and we'll run a contest with tickets to your event! [email protected]
