Florida Senate - 2015 (NP) SR 1628 By Senator Thompson 12-02802-15 20151628__ 1 Senate Resolution 2 A resolution recognizing Dress for Success for helping 3 women around the world succeed in the workplace and in 4 life since 1997. 5 6 WHEREAS, Dress for Success is a global, not-for-profit 7 organization that promotes the economic independence of 8 disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network 9 of support, and career development tools to help them thrive in 10 the workplace and in life, and 11 WHEREAS, in 1997, second-year law student Nancy Lublin 12 received a $5,000 inheritance from her great-grandfather and 13 decided to turn this gift into one that would help women in 14 need, and 15 WHEREAS, teaming up with three area nuns, Nancy Lublin 16 later that year founded Dress for Success in the basement of a 17 church in Manhattan, and 18 WHEREAS, from that original basement boutique, the Dress 19 for Success concept spread across all of North America and 20 across the globe, demonstrating that achieving economic 21 independence is a universal challenge faced by all women, 22 regardless of their location, language, customs, or culture, and 23 WHEREAS, since 1997, Dress for Success has expanded to more 24 than 139 cities in 19 countries and has helped more than 850,000 25 women work toward self-sufficiency, and 26 WHEREAS, Dress for Success thrives because of the 27 dedication of community volunteers, and each year, more than 28 10,000 women and men generously donate their time and talents 29 across the globe to help women obtain employment, and 30 WHEREAS, Dress for Success affiliates receive client 31 referrals from more than 5,000 diverse not-for-profit and 32 government agencies internationally, which include homeless 33 shelters, immigration services, job training programs, 34 educational institutions, and domestic violence shelters, among 35 many others, and 36 WHEREAS, today, Dress for Success operates six stand-alone 37 boutiques in Florida, located in Tallahassee, Winter Park, 38 Tampa, Fort Myers, Lake Worth, and Miami, which collectively 39 have helped more than 22,000 women achieve economic stability 40 since 2005, and 41 WHEREAS, Dress for Success and its affiliates are committed 42 to helping all women in need make a fresh start and achieve 43 their professional and personal goals, NOW, THEREFORE, 44 45 Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida: 46 47 That Dress for Success is recognized for helping women 48 around the world succeed in the workplace and in life since 49 1997. 50 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution, with 51 the Seal of the Senate affixed, be presented to each of the six 52 Florida affiliate chapters as a tangible token of the sentiments 53 of the Florida Senate.