Walmart lends hand to Dress for Success
NEW YORK — Walmart announced that it has donated $2 million to Dress for Success, a nonprofit that helps females get back into the work force by providing clothes, interview preparation and other tools needed to land a job. The announcement was made at the third annual Dress for Success day of service in New York.
"Dress for Success is helping women get the skills they need to get back into the work force, and those services are desperately needed right now," said Mary Fox, Walmart's SVP global apparel sourcing. "Three years ago, our New York office began building a relationship with Dress for Success by lending our time and skills because we believed in what the organization does to help women. We're proud that our office's community service efforts at the local level have grown to a national partnership between Walmart and Dress for Success."
Dress for Success reported an increase in female jobseekers that have been out of work for several weeks. The most recent employment report from the Bureau of Labor mirrored the sentiment, reporting that nearly 44% of the jobless have been unemployed for 27 weeks or more.
Today, 300 of Walmart's New York-based associates will review resumes, provide career advice and conduct mock interviews at Dress for Success branches across New York City.
"Dress for Success is already a leader in employment retention for disadvantaged women, but with this generous grant from Walmart, we will significantly expand our work in job preparation and career advancement," said Joi Gordon, CEO of Dress for Success Worldwide. "The women we serve across the country will now have access to support and services for every phase of their professional lives, starting with the job search and leading to sustained employment and self sufficiency."
Dress for Success has more than 110 job-training offices globally and served an estimated 48,000 women last year through its nationwide efforts. The Going Places Network by Walmart helps women gain professional skills, accelerate their job search and build confidence.