Business Beyond the Bottom Line

Last month, 100 women arrived at a high school to find the gym had been transformed into a beautiful boutique for the Women's Day of Self-Esteem. A similar transformation recently took place at FIDM in Irvine when their center became a wonderland of prom dresses for low-income teens at our Cinderellas for Life event. While these wardrobing centers do appear practically overnight, it's not without incredible community support!

Since 2004, FedEx has provided outstanding assistance in transporting all of our supplies, racks, décor, and endless amounts of clothing from our Donation Center in Fountain Valley to various sites hosting our events throughout Orange County. Lee Randall who coordinates our FedEx services and the FedEx drivers-including long-time driver and friend Hector- who often come in early and work weekends, make this aspect of our set-up and tear-downs practically seamless.

For more than 30 years, FedEx has been seeking opportunities to make a difference in the lives of the people it serves. From disaster relief, pedestrian safety, education and youth outreach projects to life-changing health and human services, FedEx harnesses the power of its unique resources to meet the most critical needs in our communities. Whether they're transporting Bald Eagles or professional clothing for at-risk men and women, the FedEx trucks you see might just have some very special cargo!

Did you know that we don't just make our clients look and feel great, but we can do the same for your staff? First American knows the effect when Working Wardrobes presents a "Power of Your Image" workshop for employees! Great-looking staff who understands appropriate business attire.

For more than four years, First American has been a wonderful partner company. Whether they are buying tables at our fundraising events, organizing "Jeans for Jobs" days, presenting Working Wardrobes' workshops, hosting "Girls Nite Out" shopping parties at The Hanger, or organizing clothing drives, there's hardly a way to support Working Wardrobes that First American hasn't seized and run with. Their support is making a tremendous difference!

Through these many activities and events we've come to love a number of employees who have championed our cause within the company. Dori Augustine, Marina Olmos, Tania Crafton, Kim Tilo and Stacey Bryant, who has just joined our Board of Directors lending outstanding skills, are just a few of the employees who have advocated on our behalf and become great friends. Working Wardrobes recognizes First American as a company that has cultivated an environment that promotes volunteerism and is making a positive impact in the community!

Making Possible a Fairytale Dream-Come-True

Last year, a young Garden Grove High School student wrote Working Wardrobes thanking us: she had fallen in love with a department store dress she couldn't afford, and then found the same exact dress at our Cinderellas for Life event. It is this fairytale dream-come-true that Cache makes possible when they donate more than 300 prom and party dresses for the annual prom event. Having donated dresses for the past four years, they have helped nearly 1,000 low income teens attend their prom! Additionally, each young lady leaves with her dress and accessories packaged in a wonderful hot pink Cache shopping bag, one more important touch making it a truly special shopping experience.

Recently, when Working Wardrobes put out a call for fashion retailers to join us in participating in The Luxury Lounge in honor of the 80th Annual Academy Awards, Cache's Rene Bousard opened her rolodex and brought two wonderful companies to the table. Both Laundry by Design and True Religion participated in the special pre-Oscar event and wonderful new connections with the companies have been made.

We continue to acknowledge and thank our wonderful partners, like Cache, who recognize the value in aligning with our mission, and also in opening doors to new potential partners.

A Leading Corporate Citizen

For the first time, Working Wardrobes welcomed a Presenting Sponsor for the 2007 Black Tie & Tennies Gala, our Designing Women Guild's most successful event. Sprint's sponsorship was a significant factor in the event's overall success and just the beginning of a very important corporate partnership for Working Wardrobes.

In addition to event sponsorship, Sprint is currently hosting a clothing drive, providing representation at our Corporate/Civic Advocate meetings and looking forward to hiring our qualified clients in their many Southern California stores. Additionally, Monnie McGaffigan, a Regional VP for Sprint, has accepted a seat on the Working Wardrobes' Board of Directors.

As a leading corporate citizen, Sprint takes its responsibility to its employees, customers, and the communities in which these employees and customers live and work seriously. Each year, Sprint employees across the country donate hundreds of thousands of hours of their time to serve the charitable and civic needs of our communities. Throughout its long history, the corporation has passionately supported both local and national efforts to improve the communities where Sprint employees and customers live and work. Sprint's goal is to invest its philanthropic resources in the areas most meaningful and relevant for its business, customers, and employees as efficiently and effectively as possible.

Protecting our Brand Identity

Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP was founded in 1962. Today, the firm has over 200 lawyers and other professionals specializing in intellectual property law, including patents, trademarks, copyright, unfair competition, trade secrets and right of public. The firm is one of the largest specialty firms in the United States and also serves clients around the globe, including public and private companies at various stages of growth from start-up to Fortune 500.

Knobbe Martens' lawyers are committed to approaching each case with an emphasis on achieving the client's business goals. The firm's success rate at trial and in recovering attorney's fees from opposing parties demonstrates an ability to advise clients prudently as to whether a case should be settled or taken to trial.

This same level of expertise and commitment was brought to Working Wardrobes when Knobbe Martens provided the talent to register our trademark in 1995. That one decision has played an essential part in the growth and expansion of our organization as attorneys have had to protect our mark three times. In each occasion, Knobbe Martens has been successful, maintaining and protecting the integrity of our name.

All of this fine work has been done for us pro bono, adding up to tens of thousands of dollars since 1995. In addition, we have had an attorney from Knobbe Martens serving on our Board of Directors for the past five years, offering good counsel in the work we do. We are extremely grateful to Knobbe Martens for providing legal counsel that has been priceless to us.

Ten Years of Corporate Sponsorship

Working Wardrobes is currently celebrating ten years of corporate sponsorship by the Men's Wearhouse. George Zimmer and the Men's Wearhouse have played an integral role in helping Working Wardrobes expand our services to include men in crises when it sponsored the first Men's Day of Self-Esteem in 1998.

Standing firmly behind Working Wardrobes and the mission of getting adults in crises back to work, the Men's Wearhouse has continued to be a steadfast partner, providing more than $250,000 in sponsorships and in-kind donations of new clothing valued at $5 million. A consistent presence at the career fairs, the Men's Wearhouse has seen the mission to fruition by hiring several Men's Day of Self-Esteem participants.

Through Working Wardrobes' career fairs, held in conjunction with the annual Days of Self-Esteem, the Men's Wearhouse has hired multiple clients including current Working Wardrobes' Board Member Indika Wijesekera in 2005 and Vincent Muse in 2006. "I never expected anyone to hire me with my past, but I was able to learn how to overcome potential roadblocks [employers] might have. Having the opportunity to meet and interview with the Men's Wearhouse was an opportunity I never expected," said Muse.