A few weeks ago I told you about an organization called "Second Chance". We were collecting clothes for this organization to help them prepare to reenter the workforce. As with any fundraising event, you are relying on people to give from their heart what they can afford to share...in this case approximately 1,000 pieces of clothing from our generous employees at work. It was a tremendous response.
Part 2 of this program was a makeover session at the store. I began "pressuring" people into donating their time to assist in this makeover process. I have done many fundraising events, and everyone is with you from the get-go, and then they are "busy" or realize that "donating" means you do not get paid for time at the event. So people drop out. I always try to arrange for more people than necessary due to the "fall out" quotient. To my shock and amazement, more people showed up than I had counted on to volunteer, and more people from Second Chance showed up to be made over.
At 8AM today they arrived to be greeted by the Senior Management team; Lisa, Greg, and myself represeted the Junior team; and a cast of Sales Professionals all prepared to impart knowledge in the areas that they knew best.
The gang from cosmetics: Ashley and Amy from Bobbi Brown, Jill from Chanel, Rita from Lancome, and Anita from Laura Mercier. All did makeovers...but more than that they showed them how to go anywhere, a drug store, Target, anywhere, and select the appropriate colors for themselves and how to apply makeup so that they looked professional. What an amazing thing to see!
Eden from Handbags and Jerome from Domestics were working together cutting hair (who knew?)! A new person from handbags even tagged along to assist them in any way she could!
I was going for a haircut October 17th....with things as they are currently Jerome may be cutting my hair in my office.
We had a station set up for a little one on one to discuss interviewing skills. This was done with Denise from Petites, and Stephanie from Handbags.
Then they went straight to the "dress for success" experts: Kathleen, Greg, Miguel from New View, and Jared from Men's Denim. Anything from how to tie a tie to how to select an outfit that will separate you from your competition.
Where was I you ask---with Stephen driving the donated clothes to Encanto to the Second Chance training area (by the way a tremendous facility) in Kathleen's 22 year old pick-up truck ("pay no attention if it makes a strange noise while you are turning").
Fundraising is like childbirth, painful getting to the finish line, but what a wonderful gift at the end...and, by next year, I will be happy to volunteer again. It was a tremendous day, and people's incredible giving spirit made my heart sing!!
You would hire her wouldn't you????
