1992-2005 History and Accomplishments

Suited for Change has “suited” more than 12,500 women since our founding in 1992. In their evaluations of Suited for Change’s services, clients have expressed the following:

“Suited for Change made the difference in fulfilling my employment goals -- a professional appearance equals a professional position" “I have declined several interviews . . . because I no longer have suitable clothing. Now I feel like I can accept the interviews and go in and win the job.”“Suited for Change made the difference in fulfilling my employment goals -- a professional appearance equals a professional position,” “I have declined several interviews . . . because I no longer have suitable clothing. Now I feel like I can accept the interviews and go in and win the job.” “Suited for Change has been a catalyst for me by empowering me through seminars on presentation skills, interviewing secrets, workplace strategies, and business/social etiquette.” “I just had to take a few minutes out of my busy day to let you know how much your services made a difference in my life. Because of your generosity, I have landed the job of my dreams. My suit made all the difference. I already had the knowledge and skills, but the clothes completed the outside with what was inside. Thank you and keep up this great service.” “Suited for Change has been a catalyst for me by empowering me through seminars on presentation skills, interviewing secrets, workplace strategies, and business/social etiquette.”

Suited for Change has been featured nationally on television news programs on CBS, CNN and CNBC and in the Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The Washington Times, USA Weekend, and Working Woman magazine. We have also been featured locally on WJLA, WRC, WTTG, WUSA, and News Channel 8 as well as in The Washingtonian and The Journal newspapers.

Suited for Change has received numerous awards for its distinctive service to the Washington, DC community. The Soroptimist International awarded the Businesses Advancing the Status of Women Award to Suited for Change for “improving the status of women.” Hadassah awarded the Myrtle Wreath Award to Lisa Woll, Suited for Change’s Founder and Board President, “in recognition of founding Suited for Change, an organization which brings dignity and the hope of a better future to women.” Suited for Change also received an award in the Washington Council of Agencies’ Excellence in Nonprofit Management Competition. In December 2003, Suited for Change was named one of Washington, DC’s best charities by the Catalogue for Philanthropy and Washingtonian magazine.

TIMELINE OF SUITED FOR CHANGE

• In 1992, Lisa Woll founds Suited for Change and enlists the help of four colleagues and friends to create the founding Board of Directors.
  
  
• June 1993, Suited for Change held its 1st Annual Celebration and Auction. Mayor Sharon Pratt Kelly, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, and Council members Linda Cropp, Charlene Drew Jarvis, and Hilda Mason served as honorary chairs. Ninety people attended.
  
  
• In September 1994, Suited for Change hosts the first national meeting of all “sister organizations,” which resulted in the founding of The Women’s Alliance, a national organization of similar programs throughout the United States through which members share information and access resources on a national level.
  
  
• Since 1995, Suited for Change has offered its Personal and Professional Development (PPD) series of seminars to help clients develop the skills they need to secure and retain employment. The seminars are offered monthly and are divided into two tiers. Tier I is for those seeking employment and focuses on topics such as interview techniques, verbal and written communication skills, effective resumes and time management. Tier II deals with job retention issues and includes seminars on financial and credit management, dealing with difficult people, home buying, health and wellness, and setting career goals.
  
  
• October 1995, Tipper Gore and her staff visited SFC, arms loaded with professional attire and accessories donated by White House staff. Tipper Gore met with two clients and helped them select outfits for interviews. “It’s great knowing that this clothing is going to make a real difference in people’s lives. Having appropriate business attire is crucial for them to get back on their feet and become independent,” said Mrs. Gore of her visit to Suited for Change.
  
  
• In 1996, 17 of Washington’s leading television anchorwomen donated their “on air” suits at a reception to benefit Suited for Change.
  
  
• In 1997, Suited for Change commemorated its fifth anniversary. The 5th Annual Celebration, “Celebrating Five Years of Success,” was held at the National Museum of Women in the Arts. The event was sponsored by the museum’s Business and Professional Women’s Council and featured Hillary Rodham Clinton as honorary chair and Paul Berry of WJLA-TV as the auctioneer for our live auction. Mrs. Clinton noted that “Suited for Change has the power to transform the lives of not only the women who benefit from your service but entire families, neighborhoods and communities.”
  
  
• In 1998, Washington’s newest sports team, the Washington Mystics sponsored a clothing drive to benefit Suited for Change during a home game at the MCI Center. More than 2,500 suits were collected in one night and Suited for Change staff, board, and clients became forever Mystics fans!
  
  
• May 1999, Suited for Change hosts its Seventh Annual Celebration, entitled “A Capital Community” to celebrate its successes in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. The event’s honorary co-chairs were James Gilmore, Governor of Virginia, Parris N. Glendening, Governor of Maryland, and Anthony Williams, Mayor of the District of Columbia.
  
  
• October 1999, Suited for Change held a second Anchorwomen Benefit, hosted by Kathleen Matthews and Maureen Bunyan. Anchorwomen from all Washington, DC stations were partnered with Suited for Change clients who shadowed the anchorwomen during the day of the event. That evening, each anchor presented her client with an accessory or suit from her own closet.
  
  
• In August of 2000, Suited for Change received the Best Nonprofit Placement Organization from The Fannie Mae Foundation's Summer Jobs Program.
  
  
• In December 2000, Suited for Change founder, Lisa Woll, was named a Washingtonian of the Year by The Washingtonian magazine.
  
  
• In 2002, Suited for Change officially launched its website, www.suitedforchange.org. Amazon.com immediately became Suited for Change’s first online partner by donating 15 percent of all purchases made via SFC’s website to Suited for Change. Please access Amazon.com via our website.
  
  
• In January 2002, Suited for Change received a Learning Circles Project grant for capacity building, sponsored by the Innovation Network, Inc., The Fannie Mae Foundation and The Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer Foundation.
  
  
• February 7, 2002, Mayor Anthony Williams proclaims this day Suited for Change Day in the District of Columbia and officially launches Suited for Change’s Tenth Anniversary.
  
  
• In Spring 2002, World-famous makeup artist Bobbi Brown demonstrates beauty techniques and autographs books at a luncheon sponsored by Neiman Marcus to benefit Suited for Change and The Fashion Group International Foundation.
  
  
• In April 2002, Suited for Change recognized its major contributors during its first decade at a reception at the residence of The British Embassy, with the Ambassador and Lady Meyer as gracious hosts.
  
  
• June of 2002, Suited for Change marked 10 years of service to the Washington Metropolitan area. The 10th Annual Celebration and Auction event, “A Decade of Making A Difference” was held at the Corcoran Gallery of Art and included a private viewing of the exhibit: Jacqueline Kennedy: The White House Years. More than 500 guests attended. First Lady Laura Bush served as Honorary Chair and described Suited for Change as, “a dynamic and inspiring circle of people who are determined to maximize their own lives and those of their neighbors.”
  
  
• In May 2003, Suited for Change marked the close of our 10th anniversary year, by throwing an 11th birthday party at the Bank of America building. The 11th Annual Celebration and Auction was co-hosted by Virginia E. Hayes Williams, First Mother of the District of Columbia, and Kendel Ehrlich, First Lady of Maryland. Former SFC client and keynote speaker Evelene Duhart noted, “Suited for Change made me feel like I belonged and helped me realize my self worth. They freely helped me go even further with my rebuilding process than I thought was possible.”
  
  
• In July 2003, Suited for Change hosted a delegation of women from Afghanistan, including the Minister of Women’s Affairs, Habiba Sarabi, and several leaders of the Afghan women’s movement. They are interested in establishing a similar program in Afghanistan using Suited for Change as a model.
  
  
• In December 2003, Suited for Change was named one of the best 70 charities in Washington, DC by the Catalogue for Philanthropy and one of the top 20 charities in Washington, DC by Washingtonian magazine.
  
  
• On April 21, 2004, Suited for Change served our 10,000th client. Deborah Wolverton received a surprise makeover when she walked through our doors with her case manager from Maximus. In addition to two interview outfits, Deborah received an Ann Hand pearl necklace, a briefcase, pen and a month of groceries from Giant Foods, and a limousine ride to ColorWorks salon for a day of beauty. This major milestone was covered on channels 5,7, and 9 as well as NewsChannel 8.
  
  
• On May 19, 2004, Suited for Change hosted our 12th Annual Celebration and Auction. The event featured Deborah Wolverton, our 10,000th client, as keynote speaker. Held at an office building on Capitol Hill, the Annual Celebration included 78 female members of Congress on its honorary committee. More than 350 people attended and helped us raise nearly $140,000 to support our programs and services…a new Suited for Change record!
  
  
• On Saturday, October 30, Suited for Change hosted our inaugural Plus Factor Network clothing drive. The Plus Factor Network was created in Summer 2004 and is a partnership between Suited for Change and area African-American churches and civic groups. The goal is to build greater partnerships between the organizations in order to generate more donations of plus-size clothing and financial donations to cover their purchase cost. More than 1500 plus-size suits were collected during this first drive!
  
  
• In 2005, Suited for Change was once again recognized as one of the Washington, DC’s best charities with our inclusion as one of only 15 organizations working in the area of workforce development in the Spirit of Giving Guide.

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