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threads
Brand New "News" from Dignity U Wear
Summer 2007 |
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 Welcome to threads, the new quarterly newsletter from Dignity U Wear. We chose the name of the newsletter not only as a reference to the clothing we distribute, but also because of the way we are knitted together with our clothing donors, volunteers, recipient agencies, our supporters and friends, and the men, women and children who receive the clothing. Together we are the fabric of society - a tapestry, strong and beautiful; each thread connected - and important - to the whole.
The first stitch was sewn just over 7 years ago. Philanthropist and Holocaust survivor Henri Landwirth began a grassroots effort to collect broken packages of underwear and socks from local stores for a nearby shelter. Today, Dignity U Wear's mission, to positively impact the lives of children and families in need by providing brand new clothing (at no cost to the recipient), is achieved through partnerships with 280 social service agencies in 30 states. Together we are creating a bright future - Brand New Clothes for a Brand New Life.
Let's follow the thread...
New apparel is donated by manufacturers, retailers, businesses, and community groups nationwide. A volunteer workforce then assists us in inspecting, sorting and shipping the clothes in the sizes and gender requested by our partner agencies. This allows each program to address the specific needs of their clients while restoring self-esteem and dignity by providing clean, new, appropriate clothing that fits. Thousands of shirts, pants, shoes, underwear and outerwear reach men, women and children in need each week. Addressing the space and manpower concerns of both our business and non-profit partners ensures that donations will reach those that will be impacted the most.
In extraordinary circumstances, we have felt compelled to expand our mission. Mobilizing in response to the devastating tornado outbreak of May 2007, Dignity U Wear partnered with National Mills, Inc. of Pittsburg, Kansas, as well as CSX Corporation (Intermodal) a leading transportation provider, and an Overland Park, Kansas, Stein Mart store, to arrange delivery of over 30,000 pieces of brand new clothing to individuals in need. |
Dignity AIXellence
Wine & Dine with Dignity
The event of the summer finds Dignity U Wear joining forces for the first time with Bistro AIX for an afternoon of fine wine, great food and cool entertainment...all to benefit efforts that provide brand new clothing to men, women and children in need. August 26 will find Chef Tom Gray and his Bistro AIX team preparing food and wine pairings created especially for this Sunday afternoon event. The sounds of singer/songwriter Ace Winn will add to the ambiance as guests mingle and vie for the opportunity to purchase the winning ticket for any of three fabulous raffle items: a $500 gift certificate to Bistro AIX, a personal wine cellar including a selection of fine wine, and a private wine tasting for 10 at The Grotto. Guests may also bid on a special silent auction trip to Napa Valley!
Sunday, August 26, 1 - 4 pm. Tickets must be purchased in advance ($75 per person). For ticket information or sponsorship opportunities, contact Cindy Spence Sadler, Development and Communications Director at csadler@dignityuwear.org. | |
Cocktail Couture 2007
Off To The Races!
On April 26, 2007, the Jacksonville City Center Chapter of IIDA (International Interior Design Association) held their Fourth Annual Cocktail Couture - a friendly competition among some of the city's most talented Design Teams. Designers were challenged to create "Big Bold Kentucky Derby Hats" using donated industry materials.
The event, held at Fogle Fine Art, included food, fun and both a live and silent auction of the hats!
 A check for $16,300 was presented that evening to Dignity U Wear Executive Director Jim Diehl; however, after a final tally, this year's event raised $18,000! |
| Partner Spotlight
Dignity U Wear is very honored to share a unique relationship with Stein Mart. Through our partnership with many of the Stein Mart stores across the country, we have the opportunity to collaborate and support non-profit agencies working directly with a diverse population of men, women, and children in need.
Stein Mart associates creatively fundraise for Dignity U Wear and, in turn, we provide new clothing to a service agency in their own community. The funding provides Dignity U Wear with much needed revenue while non-profit agencies throughout Northeast Florida and the nation are provided with new clothing for their clients in need.
Mr. Joe Broadhurst (center), Executive Director of CrossNet, presents a check to Dignity U Wear as a thank you for the brand new clothing that the agency continues to receive for their clients.
During a recent visit to the Houston area, Development and Communications Director Cindy Spence Sadler gratefully accepted a donation of $1,125 from CrossNet, a 'Stein Mart' partnering and recipient agency. CrossNet works with male and female prisoners and their families by providing training and practical assistance to help them build lives independent of the criminal justice system.
Many thanks to Stein Mart and their associates for their dedicated community stewardship!
For questions and comments regarding our National Agency program or our Stein Mart partnership, please contact Liz Minor, National Agencies Director, at lminor@dignityuwear.org. |
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Donate with Dignity
There are many ways you can help to support our mission!
Brand New Clothing, of course! Apparel donations are accepted year-round. We are currently preparing for "back-to-school" and the upcoming winter season, and are especially in need of warm sweaters, coats, and jackets for adults and children.
Did you know secure contributions can be made on-line at www.dignityuwear.org?
Volunteer! Over 95% of Dignity U Wear operations are provided by volunteers at our Jacksonville, FL Distribution Center.
Donations of In-Kind services and products make our work possible. Pratt Industries of Conyers, Georgia, for example, has been a generous supplier of cardboard boxes needed to ship brand new clothing to agencies nation-wide.
For more information, please contact:
Clothing Donations:
Michelle Charron
Corporate Procurement Director
Financial & In-Kind Support:
Cindy Spence Sadler
Development & Communications Director
Volunteer Opportunities:
Peggy McDonald
Volunteer & Community Agencies Director
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The Essence of Dignity
National Media Spotlights DUW
Dignity U Wear was recently honored to receive the support of Essence Magazine, the preeminent lifestyle, fashion and beauty magazine for today's African-American woman.
The February 2007 issue included an advertisement for Dignity U Wear. The magazine, with a monthly circulation of over 1 million and a readership of more than 7 million, is a marvelous addition to the increasing number of media outlets that have chosen to spread the news of our mission, including Apparel, Baby & Child, California Apparel News, DNR, Earnshaw's, FashionMANNUSCRIPT, Hudson's, Intimate Apparel Business, It's A KIDSWORLD, Skirt!, Off-Price Apparel and Printwear.
Also in February, the exclusive Bead Retreat design bracelet kit, featuring the Dignity U Wear logo charm and Swarovski crystals and pearls, was featured in Simply Beads magazine. The bracelet kit retails for $15.00, with $5.00 from each kit purchased going directly to Dignity U Wear.
Bead Retreat's Dignity U Wear bracelet. Call (888) 708-BEAD for more information.
Bead Retreat Ltd., a women- owned business headquartered in Newport News, VA, blends the creative art of bead design into a direct-sales concept. Established in 2001, the company now has 950 Coordinators around the U.S. Bead Retreat Coordinators have the opportunity to develop and grow their own distributorships in their own location.
Each of these partners, in addition to organizations and apparel industry events such as Charlotte's Merchandise Mart, CurveNV, KIDShow, MAGIC, Off-Price Specialist Show, Surf Expo, U.S. Association of Importers of Textiles and Apparel, and WWIN, offers a great opportunity to share Brand New "News" about Dignity U Wear! |
Willing & Able
DUW Volunteer Sharon Starling & Founder Henri Landwirth Honored
It is with great pride that we announce that two members of the DUW family were recently recognized at Volunteer Jacksonville's 2007 Celebration of Service Awards.
Sharon Starling, a dedicated volunteer who has generously donated over 1,700 hours of service to Dignity U Wear since 2003, received the Willing and Able Award. This award is presented to a volunteer with a disability who has provided outstanding service to the community.
Sharon (right) with Jim Diehl, Dignity U Wear's Executive Director.
Henri Landwirth, Founder and Chairman Emeritus of Dignity U Wear, was also honored at the same event with the Tillie Fowler Spirit of Service Award. This award is presented to an individual who exemplifies the change that one person can make through the power and value of volunteer action.
Henri Landwirth (center) with friends, and former Dignity U Wear Board members, Mel Gottlieb (left) and Hugh H. Jones, Jr.
We would like to extend our thanks and appreciation to the over 7,000 volunteers who provided Dignity U Wear with 28,000+ hours of volunteer service in 2006!
Individual and group volunteer opportunities are available at our Jacksonville, FL Distribution Center. Please contact Peggy McDonald, Volunteer and Community Agencies Director, at pmcdonald@dignityuwear.org. | |
| More"DIGNIFIED" News and Events
 Undie Sunday/ Undie Monday 2007 collected 80,000+ pieces of brand new underwear for kids and teens! Once again, the entire Northeast Florida community, as well as groups in Royal Palm Beach, FL and Maple Grove, PA, answered the call for children's underwear. In just two campaigns, we've been able to cover more than 155,000 little bottoms! Mark your calendars for February 1, 2008, the official kick-off for Undie Sunday/Undie Monday 2008.
Dignity U Wear is honored to be among the top 25% of charities to have earned a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator. In a letter, America's premier charity evaluator proclaimed, " We are proud to announce that Dignity U Wear has received our 4-star rating for its ability to efficiently manage and grow its finances." The statement went on to say "Dignity U Wear outperforms the majority of nonprofits in America with respect to fiscal responsibility. This 'exceptional' designation from Charity Navigator differentiates Dignity U Wear from its peers and demonstrates to the public it is worthy of their trust." We're very proud of our affiliation with Charity Navigator and GuideStar, two highly respected evaluators of America's non-profits.
What if Dignity U Wear earned a penny every time you searched the Internet? Well, now we can! GoodSearch.com is a search engine that donates half its revenue to the charities its users designate. You use it just as you would any search engine, and it's powered by Yahoo!, so you get great results. Just go to Goodsearch.com and be sure to enter Dignity U Wear as the charity you want to support. Just 500 of us searching four times a day will raise about $7,300 in a year without anyone spending a dime!
Shop with Dignity...Make a Difference When You Shop with Giveline.com! Giveline.com is an online store created for the community-minded shopper, offering more than a million bestselling products including books, movies, music, electronics, housewares, gifts, and more. Every purchase generates a substantial donation to Dignity U Wear - an average of 16% of store sales, sometimes as high as 33%!
Share with us your feedback, thoughts, photos, and news! Please contact Cindy Spence Sadler, Development and Communications Director, at csadler@dignityuwear.org. |
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ADVISORY BOARD
Walter Cronkite
Mike Fisher
Senator John Glenn
Jane Goodall
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Henri Landwirth, Founder & Chairman Emeritus
T. Parker McCrary, Board President - CSX Intermodal, Jacksonville, FL
Carl Davidson - Florida Rock Industries, Jacksonville, FL
Kim Parker - WJXT Channel 4, Jacksonville, FL
Deborah Pass - ATS Services, Jacksonville, FL
Michael Ray - Stein Mart, Inc., Jacksonville, FL
Malcolm Robinson - Phillips-Van Heusen, New York, NY
Sheri Rosenfeld - Fishman & Tobin, New York, NY
John C. Taylor, Jr. - Taylor, Day & Currie, Jacksonville, FL
Lisa O. Taylor - Pacer International, Jacksonville, FL
Jeanne Ward - Community Activist, Jacksonville, FL
C. Donald Wiggins -Heritage Capital Group, Jacksonville, FL
James Diehl, Executive Director
DIGNITY U WEAR FOUNDATION
Administrative Offices/ Distribution Center
136 North Myrtle Avenue
Jacksonville, FL 32204
Receiving WEARhouse
1435 W. Church Street, Suite #1
Jacksonville, FL 32204
Phone: (904) 636-9455 Toll Free: (888) 364-1305 Fax: (904) 636-8649
Dignity U Wear Foundation, Inc., tax ID #593635885 and state registration number CH11385 is a 501 (c) (3) organization and receives 100% of your contribution. A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL FREE (800-435-7352) WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY STATE. |
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