Power Walk for Dress for Success Vancouver - May 12, 2012

Spring has sprung and that means that the 2nd Annual Power Walk for Dress for Success Vancouver is around the corner!

Last year we raised $14,000 and in 2012, we are looking to DOUBLE it!

About Power Walk
On the morning of Saturday May 12th, 40 DFS affiliates across 5 countries will be participating in the second annual Power Walk that promotes an active lifestyle and healthy living. This event is a celebration of family, fitness and financial independence that raising funds and visibility for Dress for Success. By participating in the Power Walk for Dress for Success, you'll be taking an important step toward empowering economically disadvantaged women to achieve self-sufficiency and overall health and wellness.

The Vancouver walk will begin at Oakridge Centre with a warm up yoga session with Chantal O'Sullivan then through Queen Elizabeth Park and ending off with a party at back at Oakridge.

Where:
Oakridge Centre, located at 41st and Cambie Streets.
Registration and opening ceremonies will take place in Oakridge’s West Galleria, with the walkers heading north on Cambie St., through Queen Elizabeth Park and returning to the Oakridge Centre Auditorium. 4


When: 
Saturday, May 12, 2012 (Mother’s Day weekend)
8.00am Registration opens
9.00am Event starts
9.30am Walk starts

Register now or Donate towards a team!

Take a look, below, for some pictures from last year, courtesy of Brian Hawkes Photographic Inc.

Dawn from BTVancouver spends the morning at Dress for Success

On international women's day, Dawn Chubai from BTVancouver spent the morning at our shop/offices to learn about what we do, who we help and how you can contribute! Just in case you missed us that morning, here is the video!

Guess by Marciano Spring Collection Preview

GUESS by Marciano is inviting you to attend their private shopping event to preview their new spring collection and are once again supporting Dress for Success Vancouver.  This year marks the third year of their support for our organization.  GUESS by Marciano is also generously donating 10% of sales from that night to Dress for Success!

RSV P by wednesday, March 21

online at guessbymarciano.ca/rsvp

or by phone at 604.677.1258.

We hope to see you there!

Winter Newsletter - Director Message - Liz Sperandeo

As tough economic times continue to linger, Dress for Success

Liz Sperandeo Board Member

Vancouver continues to see an increasing need for support. While we rely solely on the generosity of our community, we recognize that donating - whether financially or with clothing donations - might not be an option right now. Fortunately, there is one powerful fundraising tool that fits even the
tightest of budgets: word of mouth!

Raising awareness about the work that we do at Dress for Success Vancouver does not have a price tag or require you to purchase a ticket for admission. We rely on volunteers, friends, family, and colleagues to help educate about what we do, and act as ambassadors on behalf of the organization. So tell your dentist, your personal trainer, friends of friends, distant cousins, or even the Twitter-verse! Word of mouth is a
powerful resource, and it won't cost you a penny!

-Liz Sperandeo


Did you know Dress for Success Vancouver is on
Twitter<http://www.twitter.com/dfsvancouver>and
Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/dfsvancouver>? Join the online
conversation, help raise awareness about the organization, and continue to
support women in our community.

Wealth Academy for Women

On February 25th, women of all financial backgrounds will gather in the Jewel Ballroom at the Freemasons Hall for the 6th Wealth Academy for Women. 

Two years ago, Tracy Themes, one of the organizers of this incredible event, approached us after our annual gala and told us about Wealth Academy. 

Wealth Academy provides everything a woman needs to know about finances in one day. This exclusively female event creates an atmosphere of community and enables attendees to voice their questions and concerns that are shared by many.

The topics covered include:

• What Every Woman Needs to Know About Money
• Financial Planning: From Debt to Prosperity
• Create a Banking Relationship that Works for You
• Women, Wealth, and Work
• Breakthrough Strategies for Success
• Wealthy from the Inside Out
• The Empowered Investor
• Art of Negotiation: Get What You Want

For more information, please visit the website

If you are attending with a dollar  in your bank account or a million, wherever you may be on the wealth spectrum, you will leave with tools to achieve your personal financial goals.

Since 2010, Wealth Academy has donated all monies raised from the full day seminar to Dress for Success Vancouver! 

Tickets are only $69.00 to attend. Bring your mom, your daughters,  your friends - any woman that you think would benefit from this. 

 

Can't come but still want to support this event?

Last year, the members of the Professional Women's Group (PWG) at Dress for Success attended this meeting in place of their regular monthly meeting. The PWG is a program offered to clients of Dress for Success who have gained employment.  The 18 month program consists of a monthly meeting with a professional speaker, discussing various topics.

We are seeking to sponsor 47 from the PWG to attend. If you can't attend, but want to support, you can send a member of the PWG to this meeting for a donation of $49.00.

Here is some of the feedback the PWG members had on the seminar.

"After attending the wealth academy, I realized I had to lay a foundation, or else! So I now have a savings account and I  encouraged my friends granddaughter to open a TFSA – Now! Thanks to DFS and Wealth Academy – Its never too late to save money"  -T.H.

"Thank you again, DFS/PWG – Wealth Academy is continuing to change my life."

We look forward to seeing you there!

--

Valerie Braacx

Dress for Success Vancouver staff

Thank You Bobbi Brown!

Since 2001, Bobbi Brown Cometics has been involved with Dress for Success World Wide.  Bobbi Brown,  sits on the board of Dress for Success World Wide, and donated over 20,000 cosmetic kits to its clients.

Well, Bobbi Brown is at it again! The cosmetic giant (the company, that is - Deb says Bobbi Brown herself is quite petite!) has sent all Dress for Success locations (120 affiliates in 12 countries) branded  make up sets to distribute to clients - containing the basics: mascara, lip close and blush/lip colour.

It felt like Christmas, on Wednesday,  as volunteers unpacked the cosmetics. We can't wait till tomorrow to start distributing the goods to clients!

Thank you again, Bobbi Brown, for your unwavering support of our clients and the organization.

Change the View Project

Right before the Christmas, Terry and Riana from Clearly Contacts came by to chat with Deb and the team about getting involved with Dress for Success Vancouver. After a tour of the shop we sat in the office and Terry explained how Clearly Contacts works, how it was started and more. He then began to explain the Change the View Project.

Vision is something that we take can take for granted. However, there are hundreds of thousands of people around the world (and in our own community) who suffer from visual impairment and do not have the means to correct it.  Clearly Contacts is dedicated to the right of clear vision for  everyone has the right to clear vision and so they began the Change the View Project.

This project is aiming to donate over 2 million pairs of eyeglasses, overseas, and locally by 2020.

With every pair of prescription eyeglasses purchased (through participating brands, found here), a second pair will be donated to someone in need.  Clearly Contacts included Dress for Success Vancouver and their clients as recipients of the free eyewear!

We are so thrilled to have the opportunity to offer our clients another service that may help them on their journey to provide for themselves and their family. Take a look at the video below on what they have already been doing in our community.

I was so excited about project, that I went right to the website and purchased a new pair of glasses!

Thank you to Clearly Contacts for including us in this wonderful project.

By: Valerie Braacx
Staff @ Dress for Success Vancouver