Dress For Success honors clients, donors
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- Published on Thursday, 18 April 2013 19:17
- Written by Paul Gordon
Congressman Aaron Schock has traveled to many countries and has seen firsthand how women are treated in those places where females have never been empowered or give equality.
That's why, the 18th District Republican said Friday, programs such as Dress For Success are so important in the American culture so that women can get the opportunities they need to be empowered and succeed in the business world.
"As a Peoria native there are many things about my hometown I am very proud of, and the Dress For Success program is one of those," Schock told more than 300 people at a luncheon, "The Purse and Suit of Happiness," to honor the program that is overseen by Friendship House.
Schock was keynote speaker for the event and he presented Dress For Success and Friendship House officers with an American flag that recently flew over the nation's Capitol in Washington, D.C.
Also there for the presentation was Nadia Lam, who was honored earlier in the month as the 2,000th client for the Dress For Success Peoria program.
She and others served by the program who have been able to get jobs as a result — many of whom were in the audience at the luncheon — "are positive role models who perpetuated the dream, and it all started with a single business suit," Schock said.
"One of my core beliefs is that people in need would rather get a hand up than a hand out. Dress For Success gives a hand up to help women become equal partners in the families and successful business people. Businesses with women in leadership positions thrive," he said.
Schock talked of how people in general feel more confident in themselves and their abilities when they look nice at work, in interviews or in any situation.
"We all feel our best when we look our best. Dress For Success understands that. You give these women confidence and through your program you enable women to shape today where they want to be tomorrow," he said.
Lam and several past clients of the program told of how it changed their lives because it changed their beliefs about themselves. Lam, a native of Hong Kong who moved to the United States in 2002, said she received her master's degree last year but couldn't get her foot in the door at any area business, even for an interview.
She went through the Dress For Success program, including the classes taught in the Going Places program sponsored by WalMart, and received clothes to wear if she got interviews. "It helped so much with my confidence and just this week I got two calls for interviews. Dress For Success has helped me with my journel and I am very grateful," she said.
Other women echoed those sentiments and talked of how they help other women now, proud to be able to give back to the program.
Laura Clark, the chief financial officer for Friendship House, reminded the audience that Dress For success could not help its clients without the support of those who donate the business clothes or other items, including money, to the program.
"Dress For Success Peoria is blessed to have the kind of support it does," she said.
