PITTSBURGH — America’s Best Cleaners (ABC) has announced the extension of its partnership with Dress for Success Pittsburgh into the year 2024, citing the continued success of the EmpowerWear program. EmpowerWear, a collaborative initiative focused on empowering women, supporting local communities, and promoting environmental sustainability, has witnessed significant achievements since its launch, ABC says.
In conjunction with its local affiliate, Owl Cleaners, ABC will continue its commitment to collecting gently used women's professional and casual attire. The pilot program, which ran from Aug. 15 through Sept. 15, 2023, will be further expanded and developed to maximize its positive impact on the community.
Through biannual collection campaigns and social media presence, the EmpowerWear partnership aims to provide professional and casual attire to women in need, fostering economic independence and enhancing access to employment opportunities. ABC, along with its partners Little Moon Marketing and Cleaners Supply, says it remains dedicated to positively empowering women in the workplace and contributing to the mission of circularity through apparel reuse in the nonprofit space.
“Our collaboration and launch of our pilot program with Dress For Success Pittsburgh seamlessly aligns with our core values of garment sustainability and circularity,” says Chris White, ABC’s executive director. “This partnership not only empowers women but also magnifies our local affiliates' positive influence on their communities and internal team culture, embodying our mission to create meaningful, lasting impact while minimizing our impact on the environment."
“Being a part of the EmpowerWear pilot in 2023 has been hugely helpful to our organization,” says Tanya Vokes, CEO of Dress for Success Pittsburgh, “resulting in over 1,500 donated pieces of business and business casual women’s clothing. These donations made it possible for us to provide clothing and employment readiness services to women heading into interviews and new jobs across the region. In addition, the initiative helped us raise awareness of our mission with customers who may be interested in getting involved as volunteers and MGC Networking Group members. We look forward to continuing to grow this partnership in the new year.”
To participate in the EmpowerWear program, ABC says in its announcement, Owl Cleaners customers can anticipate an enhanced experience, including hang tags and text notifications before their scheduled delivery. EmpowerWear garment bags will be provided along with dry cleaning deliveries, with Owl Cleaners collecting donations on pick-up day.
“We’re looking forward to expanding the program in the spring of 2024 to include Pittsburgh and four additional markets,” says White. “The goal is to have all ABC national affiliates on board by Q1 of 2025 to maximize our impact as a national affiliation.”
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