THE CAREER WARDROBE

HISTORY & OVERVIEW OF THE ORGANIZATION: FOUNDED IN 1995 BY A GROUP OF PHILADELPHIA WOMEN COMMITTED TO HELPING LOW- INCOME WOMEN PREPARE FOR THE WORKPLACE, THE WARDROBE HAS EVOLVED OVER THE PAST THREE DECADES TO ASSIST ANYONE IN NEED OF CLOTHING SUPPORT USING TRAUMA-INFORMED, GENDER-AFFIRMING, AND RACIAL EQUITY BEST PRACTICES. WITH LOCATIONS IN PHILADELPHIA, DELAWARE, BUCKS, MONTGOMERY AND CHESTER COUNTIES, AND THROUGH OUR WARDROBE BOX MAIL PROGRAM, WE ENSURE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY CLOTHING ACROSS THE REGION AND BEYOND. IN JANUARY 2024, THE WARDROBE COMPLETED A MERGER WITH OUR CHESTER COUNTY PARTNER, WINGS FOR SUCCESS, EXPANDING OUR SERVICE FOOTPRINT AND STRENGTHENING CLOTHING PROGRAMS IN EXTON AND KENNETT SQUARE. THE MERGER ALSO ALLOWED US TO EXTEND THE WINGS FOR SUCCESS EDUCATION PROGRAM, WHICH NOW PROVIDES JOB READINESS WORKSHOPS IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH, AS WELL AS INDIVIDUALIZED COACHING TO HELP PARTICIPANTS ACHIEVE THEIR CAREER GOALS. IN 2025, THE WARDROBE PROUDLY CELEBRATED OUR 30TH ANNIVERSARY-MARKING THREE DECADES OF HELPING PEOPLE LOOK AND FEEL THEIR BEST SO THEY CAN MOVE FORWARD IN LIFE AND BE SEEN FOR WHO THEY ARE OR WANT TO BE. SINCE OUR FOUNDING, MORE THAN 100,000 PEOPLE HAVE LEFT THE WARDROBE WITH MORE THAN JUST CLOTHING-THEY'VE LEFT WITH CONFIDENCE, DIGNITY AND HOPE. PROVIDING CLOTHING AS A BASIC NEED: FOR THOSE FACING POVERTY, REENTRY AFTER INCARCERATION, OR OTHER LIFE DISRUPTIONS, CLOTHING IS FAR MORE THAN FASHION, IT'S A BASIC NEED TIED TO SELF-WORTH, OPPORTUNITY, AND BELONGING. A LACK OF APPROPRIATE CLOTHING CAN PREVENT A JOB SEEKER FROM BEING CONSIDERED FOR EMPLOYMENT OR CAUSE A YOUNG PERSON TO MISS SCHOOL DUE TO EMBARRASSMENT OR BULLYING. SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OFTEN LEAVE BEHIND ALL OF THEIR BELONGINGS, INCLUDING CLOTHING. THAT'S WHY OUR PROGRAMS PROVIDE BOTH PROFESSIONAL ATTIRE AND EVERYDAY CLOTHING-OUTFITS FOR WORK AND OUTFITS FOR LIFE-TO HELP PEOPLE MEET IMMEDIATE NEEDS WHILE PREPARING FOR LONG-TERM GOALS. ELIMINATING BARRIERS TO CLOTHING AND SUPPORT: THE WARDROBE'S TRAUMA-INFORMED, BARRIER-FREE MODEL ENSURES THAT EVERY PARTICIPANT CAN ACCESS THE CLOTHING THEY NEED WITHOUT STIGMA OR UNNECESSARY REQUIREMENTS. THROUGH OPEN ACCESS, CLIENTS CAN SELF-SCHEDULE OR DROP IN FOR APPOINTMENTS, WHILE INDIVIDUALS ON PUBLIC BENEFITS CAN SELF-REFER. THIS FLEXIBILITY HAS INCREASED ENGAGEMENT AND EXPANDED OUR REACH ACROSS THE REGION. EACH INTERACTION, WHETHER IN PERSON OR BY MAIL, IS GUIDED BY RESPECT, CHOICE, AND CARE. AS ONE PARTICIPANT SHARED, "THE COMPASSION AND CARE THAT WAS SHOWN TO ME HERE MADE ALL THE WORLD OF DIFFERENCE. I FELT LIKE A HUMAN BEING." OUR IMPACT: SUPPORTING PEOPLE TO INDEPENDENCE: THE WARDROBE'S GREATEST IMPACT LIES IN EMPOWERING PEOPLE TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP IN THEIR JOURNEY, WHETHER STARTING A NEW JOB, REENTERING SOCIETY AFTER INCARCERATION, OR PURSUING EDUCATION AND INDEPENDENCE. 90% OF OUR PARTICIPANTS LEAVE THE WARDROBE FEELING MORE PROFESSIONAL, CONFIDENT AND PREPARED TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP IN THEIR JOURNEY TO INDEPENDENCE. FOR THOSE WHO WERE UNEMPLOYED, 50% HAVE SUCCESSFULLY TRANSITIONED TO EMPLOYMENT AND 25% ARE IN SCHOOL OR A TRAINING PROGRAM THAT WILL LEAD TO EMPLOYMENT. ONE PARTICIPANT RECENTLY REFLECTED, "WITH HELP FROM YOU, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO PURSUE CAREER OPPORTUNITIES, GAIN TEMPORARY EMPLOYMENT, AND THROUGH THAT WORK, I'M CURRENTLY EXHIBITING MY ARTWORK AT THE BARNES FOUNDATION" IN FY2025, THE WARDROBE PROVIDED CLOTHING THROUGH 7,551 APPOINTMENTS FOR 5,583 PEOPLE ACROSS ALL LOCATIONS-AN 11% INCREASE FROM THE PRIOR YEAR. THIS INCLUDES 1,049 WARDROBE BOXES, A 7% INCREASE FROM THE PRIOR YEAR, REACHING INDIVIDUALS WHO COULD NOT VISIT A WARDROBE SITE IN PERSON DUE TO DISTANCE OR SCHEDULING ISSUES. IN ADDITION TO CLOTHING ASSISTANCE, 1,522 PARTICIPANTS TOOK ADVANTAGE OF OUR WINGS FOR SUCCESS SUPPORT SERVICES PROGRAM. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM WE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT BEYOND CLOTHING SUCH AS ACCESS TO COACHES, WORKSHOPS TO ASSIST WITH JOB SEARCHING, AND OPEN WARDROBE DAYS THAT COMBINE CLOTHING WITH ADDITIONAL SERVICES FROM OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS. THIS PAST YEAR, PARTICIPANTS ENGAGED IN 65 COACHING SESSIONS, 35 WORKSHOPS FOR 616 PARTICIPANTS, AND 841 PEOPLE ATTENDED AN OPEN WARDROBE DAY. THROUGH OUR ADOPTED 3-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN, THE WARDROBE'S GOAL FOR THE FUTURE IS TO SUSTAIN OUR IMPACT WHILE EXPANDING CAPACITY TO MEET THE GROWING NEED FOR BOTH WORK ATTIRE ALONG WITH CASUAL CLOTHING. ONE INITIATIVE THAT ILLUSTRATES THIS FOCUS IS OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH BROAD STREET LOVE TO CREATE A STABLE SOURCE OF CASUAL CLOTHING FOR THOSE EXPERIENCING HOUSING INSECURITY AND RECEIVE ASSISTANCE AT THEIR PHILADELPHIA LOCATION.