Barbara Dell, Executive Director of Dress for Success SW Florida, is proud to announce that Dress for Success Professional Women’s Group (PWG) member, Laura Mobley-Williams from Cape Coral won first runner-up at the International 2013 Success Summit for her Community Action Project (CAP). Her CAP work with After the Rain, a non-profit home for women in despair is located in Fort Myers. She and winner from London, England were honored for their outstanding projects. They were selected over 50 Dress for Success Affiliate Delegates across the globe.
Laura Mobley-Williams
Mobley-Williams became a member of Dress for Success SW Florida while participating in the Going Places Network (GPN), a nine-week program in partnership with Wal-Mart that helps unemployed and under-employed women gain professional skills and build confidence. After finishing the program, she became a member of the Professional Women’s Group. A year later, she was chosen to be the Delegate for Dress for Success SW Florida’s Community Action Project, an annual project designed by Dress for Success Global for the purpose of reaching out into the community and helping an underserved organization.
“After reading a news article about After the Rain, I knew that this was the perfect organization for my CAP. Our goal was to enhance the living conditions, educate, and uplift the spirits of the broken and abused women who are helped by this organization,” says Mobley-Williams.
After the Rain of Southwest Florida is a non-profit transitional housing facility for women in Fort Myers. The program aims to help women in recovery from addiction, homelessness, and domestic violence. After the Rain has a director and assistant living onsite to provide residents with a supportive, home-like environment that maintains the structure and discipline needed for full recovery.
After finding out what this organization needed most, Mobley-Williams designed a program consisting of wardrobe makeovers, a fashion show, and four life enrichment classes featuring high profile guest speakers. Wal-Mart also funded a shopping trip to Home Depot for cabinets and a Wal-Mart shopping spree for other necessary items on After the Rain’s wish list. The project ended with a graduation for the women who went through the program. Laura was mentored by Wal-Mart Regional VP, Elise Vasquez Warner and had the support of local Market Manager, Shelley Allman as well. She also had the on going coaching from Dress for Success SW Florida Business Development Manager, Mary McDonough.
“We are very proud of Laura and the work she has done to help After the Rain,” says Barbara Dell, Executive Director of Dress for Success SW Florida. “As a local affiliate that has only existed for three years, Dress for Success SW Florida is truly honored to be recognized on a global level for our work within the SWFL community,” she adds.
About Dress for Success
The mission of Dress for Success is to promote the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support, and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. There are 135 Dress for Success locations in seven countries focused on providing career wardrobes and employment counseling to disadvantaged women. Since starting operations in 1997, Dress for Success Worldwide has helped more than 600,000 women work toward self-sufficiency. Dress for Success SW Florida serves both Lee and Collier counties and has a boutique and offices at 12995 S. Cleveland Ave. Suite 153, Fort Myers, FL in the Pinebrook Plaza. A boutique space is needed for the unemployed women who reside in the Naples area. For more information, email swflorida@dressforsuccess.org, call 239-689-4992 or visit www.DressForSuccess.org/swflorida.
