Dress For Success Reaches $1 Million in Donations

Thanks to generous fall grant support from the Regional Development Authority and The Hubbell-Waterman Foundation, as well as record-breaking proceeds from their 2018 Birdies for Charity campaign and Second Chance clothing sale in November, Dress for Success Quad Cities announces that they have surpassed the $1 Million milestone in total dollars raised to date. All funds raised stay right here and are invested back into the Quad Cities community.

From 2011 to 2018, Dress for Success Quad Cities has been able to raise a total of $1,051,548. Two grant funders have made a significant impact in reaching this status:

· The Regional Development Authority with total grant awards totaling $134,500

· The Hubbell-Waterman Foundation with total grant awards totaling $115,000

Grant revenue from these and others, such as the Quad Cities Community Foundation (formerly the Community Foundation of the Great River Bend), have contributed 43% of all funds raised to date. Other revenue came from fundraising events (33%), Individuals (11%), Corporate and Civic Groups (9%), Program and Other sources (4%).

Much of the success of the organization to date also comes from significant In-Kind support in the form of donated clothing or other goods and services. These are impossible to measure completely but conservative estimates indicate these approximately equal the cash revenue to date. Special recognition is also given to The Bechtel Trusts for over $200k in support since 2013 through the subsidized use of the 10,000 square foot building in Downtown Davenport where Dress for Success Quad Cities operates.

Thanks to this support and that of hundreds of volunteers who give generously of their time and talents, over 1500 women have been served with free professional attire, job retention workshops, and career advancement support since opening doors in November 2011. Over 80% of the women served are mothers raising 2.4 children on average further extending the impact of the mission to another 2900 children who benefit from her growing economic participation and career advancement.

Dress for Success Quad Cities is one of 153 affiliates located in 30 countries around the world. The organization’s mission is to empower women to achieve economic independence through a network of support, professional attire and the development tools to help her thrive in work and life. Learn more, donate and volunteer at quadcities.dressforsuccess.org.

Sean Leary

Sean Leary is an author, director, artist, musician, producer and entrepreneur who has been writing professionally since debuting at age 11 in the pages of the Comics Buyers Guide. An honors graduate of the University of Southern California masters program, he has written over 50 books including the best-sellers The Arimathean, Every Number is Lucky to Someone and We Are All Characters.

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