When she opened her eyes in a hospital bed, Pansy Dones saw a man she had never seen before. As he held her hand, he said, “We’re survivors.”
It was Sept. 11, 2001. Dones, an IT assistant who worked across the street from the World Trade Center towers, emerged from the Fulton Street subway station and knew immediately that something was wrong.
“It got dark. You heard things crumbling. You couldn’t see. Everybody was scrambling,” said Dones.
After nearly suffocating and then passing out on the street as the towers collapsed around her, Dones was rescued and brought to a nearby hospital. She was grateful to have survived but she knew that the traumatic experience would affect her both psychologically and professionally because her workplace was in ruins. As Dones lay in her hospital bed, it never dawned on her that a new suit would get her back on her feet again.
When Dones needed a suit and guidance for getting back into the professional world after 9/11, Catholic Charities referred her to Dress For Success, a nonprofit organization that helps women prepare resumes and cover letters and practice for job interviews. Once the women receive jobs, Dress For Success suits them in professional attire so they feel confident at work.
In addition, Dress For Success’ Professional Women’s Group (PWG) creates networking opportunities for the women and holds educational and social seminars.
Of her participation in the PWG, Dones said, “We attend a lot of different workshops all over Manhattan. I’ve attended workshops in Queens, I’ve attended workshops in Harlem — on all different topics —financial, how to look presentable, wellness, health, different workshops like that.”
Suiting up
The women who participate in the group have triumphed in the workforce. Seventy-five percent of the members in the group remain employed while 42 percent receive a salary increase. Twenty-percent of the women in the group receive promotions.
Dress For Success is made possible by their inventory of suits, which comes from individuals, stores and corporations as well as their annual campaign event where Dress Barn stores serve as national suit drop-off locations. The organization has branches throughout the United States and relies on the work of volunteers.
“Volunteers are truly the backbone of our organization. They ensure that our programs really all run smoothly," said Erin Moran, Dress For Success’ corporate relations manager.
At Dress For Success, volunteers suit the women, offer career advice and conduct the Professional Women’s Group seminars. They also mentor women and work one-on-one to ensure that they leave with all the tools they need to succeed.
With the help of Dress For Success, Dones got a job at a law firm and then eventually switched back to an IT job. She is now an associate member of the Professional Women’s Group.
Dressing for a wedding
While Dress For Success provides suits to women as tickets to success, The Bridesmaid Party gives wedding gowns to needy women to help boost their confidence and joy.
Heidi Janson, founder of The Bridesmaid Party, believes that recycling dresses and providing brides with gowns “is like a domino effect.” She said, “if you change one or two lives eventually it has to catch on.”
Through The Bridesmaid Party, women can donate used dresses and receive a discount on future purchases while others can buy dresses for affordable prices. Also, extra materials donated to The Bridesmaid Party are sent to organizations like Hope Craft and Rubia and then shipped overseas to impoverished women in Africa and other countries. The materials, originally from The Bridesmaid Party, and training from Hope Craft and Rubia, help the women make their own products, start their own businesses, and stimulate the economy of their countries.
“This gives them the opportunity to change their lifestyle,” said Janson.
In addition to her work with The Bridesmaid Party, Janson founded Brides Across America, a campaign to pair military brides with wedding gowns. The campaign not only helps brides receive beautiful dresses but also supports our troops and military families by alleviating their financial burdens.
Ready for the prom
Similarly, Operation Fairy Dust, a New York-based organization, pairs teenage girls with prom dresses. Operation Fairy Dust’s president and director of public relations, Megan Kerrigan, explains that with donations from sororities, Girl Scouts, human resources departments at various companies, and from people in general, Operation Fairy Dust can provide girls of all sizes with prom dresses that cater to their specific desires.
Kerrigan works closely with the Department of Education to target schools in areas of high need in order to find girls who would benefit from the dresses the most. Prom season is Operation Fairy Dust’s busiest time but Kerrigan gets requests year-round.
“I always get phone calls and e-mails from guidance counselors and social workers and senior advisers — anyone that touches the lives of these students — with an upcoming graduation or teachers that are really involved with the students and are really anxious to see the students graduate and go to prom,” said Kerrigan.
“They personally see the girls struggling with getting a dress and a ticket,” she added.
Many of Kerrigan’s phone calls include situations where girls need dresses in special sizes, unique prints, or for as soon as twelve hours away. Strapless, halter or empire-waist dresses trimmed with sequins, beads and lace in shades of bleu, vert or rouge — these are images that fill young girls’ minds as prom approaches. Operation Fairy Dust does its best to match each girl with her dream dress.
“People will call me and say 'I have this one individual student who is in a really bad place. She just experienced a person tragedy plus she really deserves to graduate,'” said Kerrigan.
Celebrities pitch in
Kerrigan feels most rewarded at Operation Fairy Dust’s annual event in New York City where thousands of girls receive dresses en masse. She also felt rewarded when celebrities caught on to Operation Fairy Dusts’ cause; Kim Kardashian, Katy Perry, Chloe Sevigny and Paris Hilton are among celebrities who have donated their dresses to Operation Fairy Dust.
Kim Kardashian, in a statement via e-mail, said, “I am always donating my clothes, some I've worn, which I sell on eBay for charity and some brand new ones! Just knowing one dress from me could make someone's prom special is very rewarding! I am just happy I could help!”
Operation Fairy Dust will be able to double the amount of girls to whom they donate prom dresses at their Spring 2010 Giveaway Event because of a successful fundraising event that took place on July 11 at Georgica Restaurant & Lounge in East Hampton, N.Y.
Amidst the current economic climate where jobs are scarce and clothing seems less affordable every day, there are a growing number of women who need help getting outfitted for important moments in their lives. Few realize the importance that a simple suit or dress can bring, but Dress For Success, The Bridesmaid Party and Operation Fairy Dust all recognize the ability of an outfit to make a woman’s dreams materialize.
