One suit at a time,
Helping women toward employment and independence
KRISTEN FORBES / Lake Oswego Review
Barb Attridge, Lake Oswego, helped start Dress for Success 10 years ago. Now she has a Nancy Lublin Founders Award by her side and a 10,000th client on the horizon.
More than a decade ago, Lake Oswego’s Barb Attridge, a former CPA, longed for a career change.
“I was looking for something more meaningful,” she explains.
A friend of her’s, Karen Fishel, was also seeking a change. When Fishel read an article in “People Magazine” about Nancy Lublin, founder of Dress for Success, she shared the story with Attridge.
“When we saw that article, I instantly knew that’s what I wanted to do here in Portland,” says Attridge, now the executive director of Dress for Success Oregon.
Dress for Success is an international nonprofit organization that provides donated business attire to disadvantaged women seeking employment. Women who are referred to the organization are provided with professional suits and accessories to wear on job interviews. Dress for Success provides additional business attire, as well as a support network and career development tools, to women who then become employed.
The two friends called Lublin and let her know they wanted to start a Dress for Success affiliate in Portland. After researching to make sure there wasn’t already a similar organization in the area, the duo co-founded Dress for Success Oregon, which got off the ground in July of 1998 and opened its doors to the public in February of 1999.
“It just took off immediately,” Attridge recalls. “When I look back, it’s like everything just fell into place.”
They started the organization in Northwest Portland in a small space with 900 square feet to work with. Clothing donations flooded in and they helped 400 women in the first year. Attridge says some women even mailed in donations to the organization from throughout Oregon.
From her years as a CPA, Attridge had the skills necessary to run a business. Beyond that, she had a passion for fashion. Fischel’s marketing and sales background, as well as her experience on boards for other nonprofit groups, proved very useful.
“We really had the perfect blend of skills,” Attridge says. “We had no idea what we were getting into; it was pure passion, just wanting to help women with a simple mission that can make such a difference in their lives.”
Ten years ago, the focus was on clothes: Mainly, providing outfits for women to wear on job interviews. When the national Dress for Success organization concluded that women need more tools than just clothes, they created a support group called the Professional Women’s Group for women who successfully gain employment. This career development program encourages job retention and includes regular meetings led by experts on topics ranging from personal finance to corporate culture. Dress for Success also has a career center, where women can receive assistance with their job searches, resumes and interview preparations.
Dress for Success Oregon works with 150 nonprofit agencies in the Portland metro area and Southwest Washington and helps women through referral only. When they arrive, women are provided with five pieces of clothing and are taught how to mix and match with accessories, shoes, scarves, coats and handbags. Women who gain employment are then provided with five more pieces of clothing for work and are invited to join PWG.
Attridge says around 160 women became members this year. Beyond learning new skills from experts, PWC also gives women a networking opportunity. Other resources, such as psychological counseling, free dental care and mentoring, are also provided.
“It’s not a cookie cutter,” Attridge says. “It’s more of a one-on-one service that we provide.”
Dress For Success Oregon has moved from 900 square feet to 4,500 square feet in the Hollywood district, where a large room serves a dual purpose as meeting area and place to sort through clothing. Dress for Success Oregon has come a long way since starting 10 years ago, recently earning the Nancy Lublin Founders Award, an annual award given to the affiliate with the most outstanding performance out of 93 affiliates in nine countries, including the U.S.
In 2007, Dress for Success Oregon helped 870 women. In 2008, that number increased to 1,200. And just through August of this year, Dress for Success Oregon has already helped 2,100 women. By the end of the year, the organization will have served its 10,000th client.
Attridge says clothing donations in all sizes are always needed. Beyond clothing, monetary donations are incredibly helpful. In honor of the tenth anniversary and upcoming 10,000th client, a fundraising campaign called ConnecTen encourages individuals to donate $10, then find 10 friends to donate $10. Attridge stresses how difficult it is to run a nonprofit organization on a small budget without government funding.
“It costs us about $300 a year to help one woman,” Attridge explains. “A woman on welfare with two children is getting about $6,000 a year. If we help her get off welfare, and then we help 500 women with two kids get off welfare, that’s $3 million in tax savings, for people who want to think in those terms.”
Ten years ago, Attridge sought out to do something meaningful with her life. With a Nancy Lublin Founders Award by her side and a 10,000th client on the horizon, it’s easy for an onlooker to say: Mission, accomplished. Ask Attridge, though, and she says she’s only getting started.
Donations are accepted Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., as well as two Saturdays every month, at 1532 N.E. 37th Avenue in Portland. The Dress for Success Oregon Web site is www.dressforsuccess.org/oregon .
Kristen Forbes is a freelance writer. To view her blog, visit www.krissymick.blogspot.com .