Agency Details:

Dress For Success Seattle

The mission of Dress for Success Seattle is to promote 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.

Description:
Women are referred to Dress For Success Seattle (DFSS) from a variety of community agencies. Appointments are scheduled through case managers. Through our Suiting Program, each client is provided an appropriate outfit tailored to her personality and career field. Trained volunteers conduct one-on-one dressing appointments, treating the appointments as mock interviews. The women leave DFSS with beautiful clothing and accessories, and perhaps even more importantly, with hope, renewed self-respect and self-confidence.
Women making the transition from unemployment to work face myriad challenges, from understanding corporate culture to handling personal finances, often without any support systems in place to help them navigate this daunting change. Born out of necessity, the Professional Women's Group is a unique support & networking group with a life long membership & special opportunities for women after they secure employment. The PWG offers members a comfortable atmosphere in which they can share, grow & network with other women who have recently made the same transition into the workforce. The monthly meetings consist of PWG members connecting with professionals & entrepreneurs from the business community as well as life coaches to utilize information & help them achieve success in their personal and professional life.

History:
Nancy Lublin founded Dress for Success in 1996 with a $5,000 inheritance from her great-grandfather, Poppy Max. Nancy wanted to honor his memory and legacy by using his hard-earned money to help other people blaze new beginnings.

A law student and new to New York City, Nancy established the organization with three nuns from Spanish Harlem who each ran public service programs. Together, they built Dress for Success New York into a vibrant organization serving women from all over the city and boroughs.

When amazing women from other areas contacted Nancy about bringing Dress for Success to their communities, she trademarked the Dress for Success name, built equity in the brand and then licensed it to these new organizations. By fall of 1998, there were nearly 20 Dress for Success programs. A year later there were close to 50 Dress for Success affiliates in three countries.

Currently as a global organization Dress For Success now has nearly 100 "sister" affiliates around the world & all of them share the goal of helping women enter the workforce and turn their jobs into thriving & rewarding careers.

The Fashion Group International was the founding sponsor of Dress for Success Seattle, which began in 1998. In order reach a broader range of clients, DFSS felt it would be advantageous to began a partnership with the YWCA of Seattle King County in January 2002. DFSS has served more than 5000 clients to date.

Contact people:

Kiantha Duncan-Woods, Program Manager, (phone), (email) Susan Ward, Program Assistant, (phone), (email)

Main office number: (206) 325-3453
Office fax number: (206)325-0720

Address:

1118 Fifth Avenue Seattle, WA 98101 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.dressforsuccess.org

Directions:

We are located on the SE corner of 5th Avenue and Seneca Street at the YWCA in Downtown Seattle. You can enter through the 5th Avenue side doors & go straight down the stairs to the basement of the YWCA.   Nearest Bus Stop: Any downtown bus, 1 minute walk

Miscellaneous Information

Liability
	Yes
Does your organization welcome court-ordered community service volunteers?
	Yes
Does your organization have volunteer positions for youth 12-18?
	Yes

Last updated on September 8, 2009